Draft bill seeks labour rights for sex workers in Thailand

A draft bill has been submitted to the Thai parliament that seeks to decriminalize sex work and extend labor protections to sex workers in the country. The Empower Foundation presented the proposed Sex Service Provider Protection Act to the House of Representatives on Thursday. The existing Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act of 1996 is outdated, as it criminalizes voluntary sex workers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and discrimination. The proposed law would repeal the 1996 act and recognize sex work as legitimate labor, entitling workers to the same basic protections as those in other professions. This bill is not an endorsement of sex work, but rather a recognition of the rights of those who do this work. The foundation said the legislation would also address safety concerns for clients and business operators, arguing that a legal framework is needed to protect all parties involved. The proposed law would provide sex workers with access to social security, health insurance, and other benefits. It would also establish a system for reporting and addressing exploitation and abuse. The Empower Foundation has been advocating for the rights of sex workers for many years and has worked to raise awareness about the issues they face. The proposed law is a significant step forward for the rights of sex workers in Thailand.

What happened

A draft bill has been submitted to the Thai parliament that seeks to decriminalize sex work and extend labor protections to sex workers in the country. The Empower Foundation presented the proposed Sex Service Provider Protection Act to the House of Representatives on Thursday. The existing Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act of 1996 is outdated, as it criminalizes voluntary sex workers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and discrimination. The proposed law would repeal the 1996 act and recognize sex work as legitimate labor, entitling workers to the same basic protections as those in other professions. This bill is not an endorsement of sex work, but rather a recognition of the rights of those who do this work. The foundation said the legislation would also address safety concerns for clients and business operators, arguing that a legal framework is needed to protect all parties involved. The proposed law would provide sex workers with access to social security, health insurance, and other benefits. It would also establish a system for reporting and addressing exploitation and abuse. The Empower Foundation has been advocating for the rights of sex workers for many years and has worked to raise awareness about the issues they face. The proposed law is a significant step forward for the rights of sex workers in Thailand.

Background and context

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Source: Khaosod English

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