Belgium Pioneers Equal Employment Rights for Sex Workers

Belgium has enacted a groundbreaking law granting sex workers the same employment rights as other workers, including health insurance, maternity leave, and pensions. This legislation allows sex workers to enter employment contracts and ensures legal protections, marking a significant shift in recognizing sex work as legitimate employment. The law excludes self-employed sex workers and aims to prevent exploitation by requiring safe working conditions. Advocacy groups see this as a step towards protecting sex workers from abuse, while emphasizing that it does not normalize the profession.