Belgium Grants Sex Workers Maternity Leave And Pensions Under Landmark Law

Belgium has introduced a world-first law granting sex workers official employment contracts, including rights to health insurance, pensions, maternity leave, and sick days. The law treats sex work as a regular profession, Sofia Bettiza reported for BBC News.

Critics argue that the law could normalize a profession they consider inherently exploitative and violent. I Photo: JJ Merelo Flickr

“This is an opportunity for us to exist as people,” said Sophie, a sex worker in Belgium. While sex work is decriminalized in Belgium and legal in several countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, this law marks the first time sex workers have been granted full employment rights. Erin Kilbride of Human Rights Watch hailed the move as "radical" and "the best step we have seen anywhere in the world so far."

The law is the culmination of advocacy efforts led by figures such as Victoria, president of the Belgian Union of Sex Workers (UTSOPI).

Victoria, a former escort, emphasized the multifaceted nature of her work, describing it as a service that often addresses loneliness rather than solely focusing on sex. “It’s about giving attention, listening to stories, eating cake, and dancing to waltz music,” she said.

Critics argue that the law could normalize a profession they consider inherently exploitative and violent. However, many sex workers see the legislation as a long-overdue recognition of their labor and rights.