On December 1, Belgium implemented a new law granting sex workers official employment status and social guarantees, including paid maternity leave, health insurance, and pensions.
The legislation places sex workers on equal footing with other professions, offering them access to paid leave, unemployment benefits, pensions, and other social rights.
The law also establishes regulations for working conditions and safety measures. Employers in the sex industry are required to obtain special permits, adhere to strict safety protocols, and meet specific requirements, such as having no criminal record for sexual violence or human trafficking.
Workplaces for sex workers must be equipped with emergency call buttons, and employers are obligated to provide hygiene supplies, clean linens, and condoms. Independent sex work remains legal, but violations of the law or unregulated employment of third parties will be subject to legal action.
Belgium’s parliament passed this groundbreaking law in May, making it the first country in the world to provide comprehensive social guarantees for sex workers. The law aims to eliminate the “gray zone” that emerged in 2022 when sex work was decriminalized without offering workers any protections or labor rights.
