Thailand’s exploited, vulnerable sex workers could soon be protected by law

[webfact]

 

Many thousands of Thais have worked in the sex industry for decades without legal protection. So it’s not surprising that most of them are looking forward eagerly to the passage of the Sex Workers Protection Bill.

 

“With no legal shield at all, we are exploited both directly and indirectly,” said a 37-year-old sex worker.

 

In the 13 years she has been selling sexual services, she has witnessed operators use harsh tactics to control sex workers and ensure they keep bringing in the money. She pointed out that owners of venues where sex is traded must themselves pay officials under the table, as prostitution remains illegal in Thailand.

 

Owners of so-called girly bars also fine the sex workers heavily if they fail to show up at work for a day or two. Sometimes, operators deduct money from the commission the women make on drinks bought for them by customers, hoping they will be too drunk to notice.

 

And since prostitution is illegal, venues providing sexual services are not registered and therefore not subject to regulations on hygiene and safety. As a result, sex workers are vulnerable to disease and on-the-job injuries.

 

“If the bill is passed, prostitution will become legal and the stigma against us will also fade,” said the sex worker, who is also a mother.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-exploited-vulnerable-sex-workers-could-soon-be-protected-by-law/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-01-23

 

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[asiasurfer]

Long overdue if it's really going to happen. But I doubt much will change. Will they be protected by law? Receive social welfare, etc... Guess not.

[tjb30i]

Now I am totally confused. The last press release said the Pattaya police visited all of the hots spots such as Walking Street and confirmed there are no sex workers. So they want to create legislation to protect sex workers who they claim don't exist lol?

[harleyclarkey]

Let me work this out.......Thailand is going to protect the non existent sex workers.

[bbbbooboo]

Good idea, just one small problem though, the law will need to be enforced. <deleted>, that would mean the authorities would actually have to do something. Not going to happen i suspect

[Mac Mickmanus]

5 minutes ago, tjb30i said:

Now I am totally confused. The last press release said the Pattaya police visited all of the hots spots such as Walking Street and confirmed there are no sex workers. So they want to create legislation to protect sex workers who they claim don't exist lol?

Its officially illegal and so the Police cannot acknowledge that it exists , so the Police don't see it when they look 

[David T Pike]

 About Freaking time!!!!

[hellohello123]

That's like testing Santa Claus and the tooth fairy for DUI

[NemoH]

Here comes the registration and then the tax man ????????????????.. n more regulations. 

For years the debate on how to tax the oldest profession. Now it’s possible, in the name of ‘protection’ - like the noble beginning of all new governmental Regulations ????????????????.  To protect. 

[harrycallahan]

Time to start paying your tax. 

[tgw]

in the linked article, some clauses of this bill are described, for example

 

"The legislation also requires operators to seek a license"

 

 

 

[keithkarmann]

1 hour ago, tjb30i said:

Now I am totally confused. The last press release said the Pattaya police visited all of the hots spots such as Walking Street and confirmed there are no sex workers. So they want to create legislation to protect sex workers who they claim don't exist lol?

That was in Pattaya.

[Straight8]

29 minutes ago, harrycallahan said:

Time to start paying your tax. 

And we are agree that they will declare all their earnings to the tax man too, right?

[ikke1959]

Where do they work ?? As inPattaya a check by the police  a week or a so ago found no prostitution... So If it doesn't exist they don't need to be protected too..Or just admit that there are a lot and protect them...

[dallen52]

But ...

there's no prostitution in Thailand....

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, harleyclarkey said:

Let me work this out.......Thailand is going to protect the non existent sex workers.

I think perhaps it is the non-existent customers who need some protection!

[Speedhump]

As prostitution would then have to be acknowledged this sadly will never happen without major governmental reform (probably revolution). Just more hot air. 

[metisdead]

Some crude troll posts and the replies have been removed.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

She pointed out that owners of venues where sex is traded must themselves pay officials under the table, as prostitution remains illegal in Thailand.

Excluding Pattaya of course, they don't have such ladies offering these services.

[AhFarangJa]

They will be taxed, as will the establishments, via licence, etc. so the pigs at the trough have more to grab. However, absolutely nothing will be done regards protection, and rights. Workers rights in Thailand, what a joke. They cannot take care of the child labour, migrant labour, etc here, so prostitution is going to be waaaay down the ladder.

[save the frogs]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

and on-the-job injuries.

lol. 

[ibjoe]

The solution is legalization and social support: rights and respect for sex workers. But that won't happen, there is too much resistance from the people exploiting the workers i.e. operators who want to keep their profits high, paid / bribed politicians / law enforcement, customers who want to keep prices low, and social conservatives. As long as the "world's oldest profession" trade remains illegal, workers will be exploited and trafficked. Sex work should be legal, regulated, and licensed, with oversight by social workers to ensure all workers are doing it by choice and not coercion.

[kcpattaya]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Owners of so-called girly bars also fine the sex workers heavily if they fail to show up at work for a day or two. Sometimes, operators deduct money from the commission the women make on drinks bought for them by customers, hoping they will be too drunk to notice.

It's called RUNNING A BUSINESS 

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“If the bill is passed, prostitution will become legal and the stigma against us will also fade,” said the sex worker, who is also a mother.

If the bill is passed prostitutes will become liable to pay tax. Wonder if they will be happy at that? I suspect there will be a mass exodus from registered businesses to go on line where they can remain "unprotected" and wealthier.

[Skipalongcassidy]

"providing services for Thai men"... so no change then

[hioctane]

"Owners of so-called girly bars also fine the sex workers heavily if they fail to show up at work for a day or two."

 

So there shouldn't be a penalty if they don't show up for work? If they don't do that, girls will not show up for work half the time! If you can't fine them, then the only option is to fire them and soon you will have no employees.

 

 

"Sometimes, operators deduct money from the commission the women make on drinks bought for them by customers, hoping they will be too drunk to notice."

 

This is impossible (at least very hard to do). Girls get a commission slip every time they get a drink. Girls watch out for each other and it wouldn't go unnoticed. They should worry more about drunk customers bills being padded. Where is the protection for us??

[thaibeachlovers]

11 minutes ago, ibjoe said:

Sex work should be legal, regulated, and licensed, with oversight by social workers to ensure all workers are doing it by choice and not coercion.

You must be talking about your own country.

I didn't know a single bar girl that would have wanted that. By not being regulated etc the money they got from customers remained their own- no tax, and they were free to change bars, or go freelance if they wished.

 

BTW, in the farang bar scene they were doing it by choice. It's the Thai sex scene that needs the intervention.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Sometimes, operators deduct money from the commission the women make on drinks bought for them by customers, hoping they will be too drunk to notice.

Who writes this stuff? They must have been hanging out at some very dodgy bars.

A BG that got that drunk at work would not remain employed very long in any decent bar.

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Many thousands of Thais have worked in the sex industry for decades without legal protection.

The age , state and girth if some of them I can believe it

[thaibeachlovers]

7 minutes ago, hioctane said:

"Owners of so-called girly bars also fine the sex workers heavily if they fail to show up at work for a day or two."

 

So there shouldn't be a penalty if they don't show up for work? If they don't do that, girls will not show up for work half the time! If you can't fine them, then the only option is to fire them and soon you will have no employees.

 

 

"Sometimes, operators deduct money from the commission the women make on drinks bought for them by customers, hoping they will be too drunk to notice."

 

This is impossible (at least very hard to do). Girls get a commission slip every time they get a drink. Girls watch out for each other and it wouldn't go unnoticed. They should worry more about drunk customers bills being padded. Where is the protection for us??

Good to see a post from someone that actually knows what they are talking about.