Sex workers in Belgium now have the right to sick leave, maternity benefits, and pensions under a groundbreaking law that officially went into effect on Sunday. The legislation, the first of its kind globally, aims to provide sex workers with the same employment protections as other workers, addressing issues of abuse and exploitation.

Passed by lawmakers in May, the law ensures that sex workers receive legal employment contracts and protections. It also fills a gap left by the 2022 decriminalization of sex work, which had not granted labor rights such as unemployment benefits or health insurance.

Under the new law, sex workers have the right to refuse clients or specific sexual acts and can halt an act at any time without fear of termination. Employers must meet strict criteria, including being of “good character,” operating their business from a registered address in Belgium, and providing safety measures like panic buttons, clean linens, showers, and condoms at their premises.

However, the legislation does not extend protections to home-based work, striptease, or pornography.

The Belgian Union of Sex Workers hailed the law as “a huge step forward” in ending legal discrimination against sex workers. However, the union also expressed concerns about potential misuse of the rules, warning that some municipalities might use safety and hygiene requirements to impose overly strict local regulations that could make sex work unfeasible.

Despite challenges, the law represents a significant shift in labor rights for sex workers, setting a global precedent.