A new law in Belgium gives sex workers social benefits and legal protections similar to other workers.

The legislation is the result of years of consultation between the Ministries of Labour, Social Affairs and Justice and grassroots organisations, such as the union for sex workers in Belgium (UTSOPI).

Outgoing Federal Labour Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne confirmed the bill's entry into force on Wednesday, and it follows Belgium's 2022 decision to decriminalise sex work.

Fundamental rights granted

The new law grants those working in prostitution fundamental rights, which includes access to pensions, unemployment, health insurance, family benefits, annual vacation and maternity leave.

Furthermore, it guarantees fundamental rights for sex workers, including the ability to refuse clients, set the conditions of and stop an act at any moment.

Those protections are only granted to sex workers who sign an employment contract, and not those who are self employed. Those who perform pornography or striptease are also not covered by the law.

Employers requirements

Employers now must obtain authorization and meet background requirements, such as having no prior convictions for sexual assault, human trafficking or fraud.

They are also required to ensure their premises are clean, sanitary and equipped with a emergency button, and are prohibited from dismissing an employee who refuses a client.

First country in the world

There have been recent debates on prostitution in other European countries, such as Spain, Germany, or Italy. Many of them have gone in the opposite direction, with support for the abolition of prostitution

But it has only been decriminalized in a handful of places around the world, including New Zealand, the Netherlands, and some parts of Australia, but Belgium is the first country to give labour protections to those working in prostitution.