Belgium made history on Sunday as the first country to allow sex workers to sign formal employment contracts, granting them access to benefits like sick leave, maternity pay, and pensions. This new law also ensures sex workers’ rights, including the ability to refuse clients, set work conditions, and stop work at any time.
While the law was passed in May, it officially took effect on Sunday.
“I’m proud to be a Belgian sex worker right now,” said Mel Meliciousss, a member of the Belgian sex worker union UTSOPI, in an Instagram post. “People already working in the industry will be better protected, and newcomers will know their rights.”
Belgium had previously decriminalized offering or paying for sexual services, instead focusing on penalizing third parties—such as brothels, landlords, bankers, and drivers—for “pimping.” In 2022, lawmakers further decriminalized sex work and redefined pimping to grant sex workers more access to essential services without legal barriers.
The new law builds on these changes, offering sex workers labor rights equivalent to other professions, such as pensions, health insurance, unemployment benefits, family allowances, annual vacations, and maternity leave.
Employers must now have authorization, a clean criminal record, and safe premises with panic buttons. They are also prohibited from firing workers who refuse clients or specific acts.
These changes reflect years of advocacy by UTSOPI, which has long highlighted the precarious conditions sex workers faced due to a lack of benefits, forcing many to work during pregnancy or past retirement age.
“This law is a major step forward, ending legal discrimination by allowing full-fledged contracts,” the union said in May.
The protections apply only to sex workers with formal contracts, excluding self-employed workers or those in pornography or striptease.
Belgium’s reforms stand out even among countries like New Zealand, the Netherlands, and parts of Australia, offering a higher level of labor protections.
In the U.S., Nevada is the only state where brothels are legal, while prostitution outside of these establishments remains illegal.
