Belgium has made history as the first country to provide formal employment contracts for sex workers, a development celebrated as a major milestone for labor rights.
Under this new legislation, which came into effect on December 1, 2024, sex workers now have access to benefits such as sick leave, maternity pay, pensions, and protection against unfair dismissal. Employers are required to meet stringent standards, including providing safe working conditions with panic buttons and hygiene compliance.
The law also ensures that sex workers have the right to refuse clients, stop services at any time, and set their own terms. It comes after years of advocacy by unions like UTSOPI, with decriminalization of sex work in Belgium having laid the groundwork in 2022. However, the law excludes self-employed workers and those in pornography or striptease, focusing on physical sex work under formal contracts.
Mel Malicious, a member of UTSOPI, expressed her excitement on TikTok: “I am a very proud Belgium sex worker right now. People who are already working in the industry will be much more protected, and also people who are going to work in the industry know what their rights are”.
