Belgium has made history by passing a groundbreaking law that treats sex workers as employees, granting them the same rights and benefits as workers in other sectors.
This law, which came into effect on December 1, 2024, offers sex workers access to sick leave, employment contracts, maternity leave, health insurance, and pension rights, marking a significant shift in how they are treated in the workplace.
The new law brings sex workers in Belgium on par with other employees, ensuring they are no longer exploited or fired for refusing clients.
Belgium had already decriminalized sex work in 2022, making it one of the few countries to do so. In May 2024, lawmakers voted to extend the same employment benefits to sex workers as those enjoyed by other workers.
While sex work has been legalized in other countries like Greece, Germany, and the Netherlands, Belgium is the first to pass comprehensive employment legislation for sex workers.
Sophie, a sex worker in Belgium, shared her personal struggles with BBC News, recounting how she was forced to work when she was nine months pregnant and after having her fifth child via cesarean section.
Despite being advised to take six weeks of bed rest, Sophie couldn’t afford it. She views the new law as a step toward social acceptance, stating, “It’s an opportunity for us to exist as people.”
Erin Kilbride, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, has praised Belgium’s decision and encouraged other nations to adopt similar laws.
The change in the law followed months of protests in 2022, fueled by the lack of state support for sex workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Victoria, the head of the Belgian Union of Sex Workers (UTSOPI) and a former escort with over a decade of experience, played a leading role in these protests.
She recalled the hardships she faced under the criminalization of her profession prior to 2022, including unsafe working conditions, limited autonomy over her clients, and high agency fees.
Victoria also shared a traumatic experience when she was raped by a client who became obsessed with her. After reporting the incident to the police, she said a female officer told her, “sex workers can’t be raped,” and made her feel that it was her fault. “I left the station crying,” she said.
Victoria emphasized that every sex worker she spoke to had been pressured to do something against their will at some point, and she strongly believes that the new law will improve their lives.
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