Belgium has recently implemented significant legal reforms for sex workers, allowing them to work under employment contracts starting December 1, 2024. This change grants them access to various labor rights, including social security benefits, pensions, maternity leave, and unemployment benefits. It also ensures their right to refuse clients or specific acts, guaranteeing workplace safety through measures like emergency buttons and employer accountability.
The legislation is part of Belgium’s progressive approach, following its 2022 move to decriminalize sex work. This development positions Belgium as a global leader in integrating sex work into labor law frameworks, aiming to protect workers from exploitation while ensuring legal recognition of their profession​.
Not all women of Belgian nationality are involved in sex work, and the participation in this profession is diverse and includes people from various nationalities. Belgium has historically been a hub for sex work due to its liberal laws and central location in Europe. With the recent reforms, sex workers now have more legal protections and labor rights, further formalizing the sector and aiming to combat exploitation.
The sex work community in Belgium comprises both local citizens and migrants, with a significant number of workers from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Many international workers are drawn to Belgium due to economic opportunities or the lack of similar protections in their home countries. However, participation in sex work is voluntary for some and driven by circumstances or coercion for others, an issue that the new regulations aim to address.
The reforms seek to provide safer working conditions for all sex workers, regardless of nationality, and to crack down on human trafficking and exploitation.
