Belgium Makes History with Full Labor Rights for Sex Workers

A Revolutionary Step Toward Labor Equality

On December 1st, 2024, Belgium entered the global spotlight by becoming the first country in the world to grant sex workers the same labor rights as any other formally employed person. It was more than just a legal reform; it was a radical recognition of dignity, safety, and human rights for a workforce that has long been marginalized and criminalized. For the first time, sex workers in Belgium can sign formal employment contracts that include health insurance, paid sick leave, maternity benefits, pensions, and unemployment support. It is a sweeping change that stands as a milestone in global labor rights and a potential blueprint for other countries wrestling with how to approach sex work within a rights-based framework.

How Did Belgium Get Here?

The path to this transformation was neither short nor smooth. Belgium had already taken a significant step back in June 2022, when it became the first European country to decriminalize sex work at the federal level. That move removed criminal penalties against third parties such as landlords, accountants, and drivers who supported the work of sex workers. It also repealed laws that had essentially made it impossible to work in any professional or cooperative setting, forcing many into isolation or dangerous, informal situations.

However, the decriminalization law while welcomed left much undone. Workers still lacked access to social protections and legal labor recognition. They could now technically work without fear of arrest, but they had no legal standing as employees or self-employed professionals. It was a halfway house between legality and vulnerability.

What Changed After the Law Took Effect?

Formal Employment Contracts and Social Benefits

The December 2024 legislation introduced binding labor contracts for sex workers in formal employment with registered employers. This means they now receive:

• Full social security coverage (including health insurance, pension contributions, sick pay)

• Unemployment benefits if they are laid off or choose to leave their job

• Paid maternity leave and access to parental protections

• Occupational accident coverage and disability benefits

Safer and Regulated Workplaces

Licensed employers brothels, agencies, and clubs are now legally required to provide:

• Clean and private rooms

• Free access to condoms and lubricants

• Panic buttons or emergency systems in workspaces

• Regular hygiene inspections and compliance with labor regulations

Greater Legal Protection and Police Cooperation

Sex workers now have the legal standing to:

• Refuse clients or specific acts without retaliation or breach of contract

• Report crimes such as violence, theft, or coercion without fear of penal consequences

• Seek legal recourse in labor disputes or in cases of wrongful termination

Additionally, Belgian police departments received training to handle sex work–related reports with greater sensitivity, focusing on support over surveillance.

Tax Contributions and Economic Legitimacy

With contracts comes taxation. Workers now file income tax returns and contribute to the state pension and welfare system. While this introduces new financial obligations, it also cements the profession's legitimacy and opens doors to financial services previously closed to them, such as mortgage applications, credit lines, or child support eligibility.

Voices from the Industry

One 45-year-old sex worker in Antwerp, who has been in the profession for over 20 years, told reporters that for the first time in her life she feels “visible, protected, and respected.” She now contributes to a pension fund and has access to paid holidays things she never thought possible in her line of work.

Another woman in Brussels said she no longer fears calling the police if something goes wrong with a client. “Before, we were always on the wrong side of the law. Now we’re part of the system.”

The Role of Activists and Unions

Advocacy groups played a crucial role in pushing the legislation forward. Chief among them was UTSOPI, the Belgian union of sex workers, which tirelessly lobbied for a law that would place sex workers on equal footing with other professions. Their message was simple but radical: sex work is work. And like all work, it deserves legal protection.

Challenges and Controversies

Independent Sex Workers Still Excluded

Despite its progressiveness, the law does not extend to independent or freelance sex workers who operate online or on their own terms. This leaves out a significant portion of the community, particularly:

• Migrants and undocumented workers

• LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming individuals

• Those working discreetly due to stigma or personal safety

These workers still operate without social protections and remain vulnerable to exploitation or violence.

Local Authorities and Restrictive Licensing

While the federal government legalized sex work and introduced labor protections, local municipalities retain control over zoning and permits. This means:

• Some cities may impose excessive restrictions on brothels or strip clubs

• Operators may face inconsistent approval processes depending on the region

• Authorities may use administrative tools to suppress legal activity under the pretext of urban planning or morality

Employer Licensing and Power Imbalances

The law requires employers to have a clean legal record and pass strict eligibility checks, including:

• No history of human trafficking or sexual violence

• No financial fraud convictions

• Adherence to all labor and health codes

While this is a protective measure, critics warn it could exclude grassroots collectives or former workers from becoming legitimate business owners, thereby favoring more commercial or corporate-style operators.

Global Reactions and Implications

International human rights organizations have praised Belgium’s approach as evidence-based and humane. While feminist groups remain split, even abolitionist thinkers concede that criminalization has consistently failed to protect sex workers. Countries like Germany, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, which have legalized or decriminalized sex work, are now watching Belgium closely to assess the social and economic outcomes of full labor integration.

What Comes Next?

For now, Belgium stands alone in the world but probably not for long. If its approach proves successful reducing violence, improving health outcomes, increasing transparency then other progressive countries may follow suit. Pilot programs, academic studies, and international labor law discussions are already being shaped by the Belgian model.

The most critical test will be whether independent workers are eventually included and whether municipal governments cooperate to make safe, legal sex work a reality across the country not just in theory, but in practice.

Dignity, Rights, and a Seat at the Table

Belgium’s new law does not erase the stigma of sex work overnight. Nor does it fix every structural problem facing those in the industry. But it does something unprecedented: it brings sex workers out of the legal shadows and into the social contract. It says their safety, autonomy, and future matter.

By choosing regulation over repression and rights over criminalization, Belgium has set a powerful example one that will shape debates far beyond its borders.