Belgium has become the first country to grant sex workers the same rights and protections as other workers, following the signing of groundbreaking legislation on Sunday. The law ensures access to maternity leave, pensions, and legal safeguards against exploitation, marking a historic shift in labor rights.
The move comes after years of advocacy, with sex workers staging nationwide protests in 2022 over their exclusion from government assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The legislation gives sex workers the right to refuse clients, decline specific acts, or withdraw consent at any point. Employers in the industry are now mandated to meet stringent standards, including maintaining hygienic premises, installing panic buttons, and providing clean linens.
“This is a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers,” said the Belgian Union of Sex Workers in a statement, lauding the new law.
International human rights organizations have also praised Belgium’s decision. Erin Kilbride, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, called it “the best step we have seen anywhere in the world so far.”
She added, “This law is radical, and it sets a precedent for other nations. We need every country to be moving in this direction.”
Sophie, a sex worker in Belgium, expressed relief, saying, “This is an opportunity for us to exist as people.”
The law has been hailed as a global milestone, with calls for other countries to adopt similar measures to protect sex workers’ rights and end workplace discrimination.
