The new law tightens registration rules for sex workers and organization of sex establishments
According to the new law, writes Deutsche Well, sex workers in Germany will be required to register every two years without fail, and also to undergo mandatory counseling at the health authority once a year, with shorter intervals for sex workers aged 18 to 21. According to Schwesig, the introduced 'obligations are not intended for oppression, but for the protection of women,' including from coercion into sex work.
In addition, from now on, owners of sex establishments will have to obtain a permit for their business and undergo a special 'reliability check'. Stricter rules are introduced for brothels, in particular, regarding the separation of working and living quarters, as well as a ban on so-called 'sex flat rate' – all-inclusive services. Violators among establishment owners face a fine of 50,000 euros. The same amount will have to be paid by a client who violates the rule on mandatory condom use.
However, not everyone agrees that the adopted law will help improve matters in the difficult-to-regulate industry of legal sex services. 'Prostitutes will not register, and in the future will work illegally,' criticizes the adopted provisions Ulle Schauws, who represents the parliamentary faction of the Greens on women's policy issues.
Earlier, protests by sex workers took place in Germany against the 'law on protection of prostitutes'. According to experts, the law may complicate their work, entail forced deanonymization, and lead to the closure of sex establishments.
Recall that prostitution in Germany has been legalized since 2002. After the adoption of the corresponding law, German sex workers got the opportunity to create their own human rights and trade union organizations, they pay contributions to the pension fund and taxes to the state, and also receive pensions. According to various estimates, between 150,000 and 700,000 women are employed in the intimate services sector. The annual turnover of the industry is estimated at six billion euros.