Legal Reforms on Sex Work

Belgium became the first European country to decriminalise prostitution when its parliament approved a new sexual penal code on March 18, 2022. The reform aimed to reduce stigma and bring sex workers into the fold of social and employment law, allowing them to work without fear of criminal penalties and, in theory, to access basic labor protections.

New Labor Law Protections

On December 1, 2024, Belgium enacted a landmark law granting sex workers the right to sign formal employment contracts with vetted establishments. Under this framework, contracted workers gain access to health insurance, unemployment benefits, paid leave, parental leave, and pension schemes. Employers now face strict obligations—background checks, hygienic workplaces, and clear rules on consent and working conditions. However, these protections fall short for self-employed sex workers, who remain outside the social security net.

Persistent Human Trafficking Risks

Despite progressive decriminalisation and labor statutes, Belgium continues to serve as a destination for human traffickers. Victims—especially migrants—are often lured by promises of legitimate work but then coerced into exploitative conditions. Law enforcement struggles to dismantle trafficking networks operating alongside legalized sex markets, leaving vulnerable populations at ongoing risk.

Travel Advisory Recommendation

Brussels, August 29, 2025 – In light of persistent human rights violations within Belgium’s legal sex sector and its ongoing role as a destination for traffickers, HQtest strongly advises against non-essential travel to Belgium at this time.

Key considerations include:

• Ongoing prevalence of organised human trafficking networks that lure victims—particularly migrants—into exploitative prostitution rings under false promises of legitimate work.

• High incidence of child prostitution: Belgium registers around 100 under-age victims each year who are coerced by pimps into commercial sexual exploitation, often accompanied by violence and psychological manipulation.

• Documented cases of adults held in slavery-like conditions, forced into prostitution through threats, confiscation of identity documents, and economic dependency.

• Reports of violence, discrimination, and stigma that endure despite formal legal reforms aimed at decriminalisation and labor protections.

Given the severity and persistence of these abuses—encompassing child prostitution risks, enslaved and forced prostitution—travellers should reconsider plans to visit Belgium until authorities can demonstrate consistent enforcement of robust anti-trafficking measures and ensure inclusive labor protections for all individuals in the sex industry.