On Sunday, Belgium passed a groundbreaking law granting sex workers the same rights as other employees.
The new legislation ensures that sex workers are recognized as employees, giving them access to benefits such as maternity leave, pension contributions, and protections against exploitation.
This decision comes after months of protests in 2022, driven by the lack of support for sex workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aim of this historic change is to provide sex workers with greater legal recognition and workplace protections, making Belgium the first country worldwide to do so.
The law also includes important protections for sex workers, including the right to refuse sexual partners or acts, and to stop an act at any time.
Employers of sex workers must now meet strict standards, such as having a business address in Belgium, maintaining good character, and ensuring their premises are equipped with panic buttons, clean linen, showers, and condoms.
The Belgian Union of Sex Workers said the law is “a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers.”
Sophie, a sex worker in Belgium, told the BBC that the new law is an “opportunity for us to exist as people.”