Thailand's sex workers hope election will change their lives

[webfact]

Sex workers rally in Bangkok on May 1, Labor Day, to demand legalization of their industry.  (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

 

Rights groups lobby political parties on bill to decriminalize industry

 

MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Asia regional correspondent

BANGKOK -- Thailand's sex workers are pinning their hopes on a new government after the general election on May 14 to pass legislation decriminalizing the country's buzzing, billion-dollar sex industry, which provides livelihoods to an estimated 300,000 people.

 

Many sex workers have rallied behind groups like the Empower Foundation, a local nonprofit campaigner for the rights of sex workers, that lobby political parties for endorsements.

 

A new law has been drafted following lengthy consultations to bring the sector out of the country's informal and abusive "gray economy" into the formal economy with full rights for the female, male and transgender sex workers. It seeks to replace the existing Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, which was promulgated in 1996 and criminalized sex work.

 

Campaigners like Thanta Laowilawanyakul, a sex worker for over 20 years, are hopeful that the political tides are changing. All political parties that Empower has lobbied have "agreed to abolish the law," she said. "This is to end our work in the 'dark' business, and will mean we can stop running away from the police."

 

Full story: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Thai-election/Thailand-s-sex-workers-hope-election-will-change-their-lives

 

-- © Copyright NIKKEI Asia 2023-05-10

 

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[ChipButty]

The only thing that will change their lives is when it goes back to 60 baht to the pound,

[rabiedabruce]

Fabulous. So interspersed among all the weed shops we will then have 'hello welcome' every other one. Idiot country. Just keep it on the down low.

[bamnutsak]

I think any Sex Worker Rights Act, and Same-Sex Marriage Act, are still decades away.

 

I think we like to think Thailand is more progressive than it really is.

 

Are any parties supporting either of these initiatives?

 

I suspect some are, especially those with fewer than one MP seat.

 

 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, rabiedabruce said:

Fabulous. So interspersed among all the weed shops we will then have 'hello welcome' every other one. Idiot country. Just keep it on the down low.

Why not combine the two into a one stop shop.

 

You could call it "Smoked" or something...

[Pink Mist]

A post using inappropriate language to describe the OP Topic has been removed as well as a reply.  Additionally, a Troll post with a photo has also been removed.

 

 

[ezzra]

I can't see it happening, no sane Buddhist orientated government will run the risk of legalizing the sex industry and therefore prostitution, the voters will not go for it, this is still a very much religious country that adhere to the Buddhist teaching. 

[BestB]

Can anyone explain please how it will change their lives? 

 

They have never paid any taxes or social security and highly unlikely will be paying

 

They are not restricted now in any way what so ever, bar owners pay for that, workers are not affected at all

 

They are freely freelancing and advertising, so what exactly will change?

 

They call the police when client does not pay, and police attempts to negotiate a payment, which is ironic considering prostitution is illegal, its like having drug dealer asking for police help because buyer would not pay????

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

The only thing that will change their lives is when it goes back to 60 baht to the pound,

What will change is when they have to divulge their true earnings and pay taxes like everyone else, possibly health and pension payments on top from the sex trade

[not the pittance the bars pay to have them entice customers inside as their earnings] 

 

[hotchilli]

11 minutes ago, ezzra said:

the voters will not go for it, this is still a very much religious country that adhere to the Buddhist teaching. 

A percentage of the voters are the sex workers?

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I think a good indication of what could happen, since the legalized dope there is a new place opened where Ilive every 50 meters, if they legalized pussy 

Example;  on the very busy ground floor of a big shopping complex near me. Various 'blends' and numerous bongs etc., on display, 1 girl & 1 boy trying to strongly waylaw customers as they walk through that area. 

[Dogmatix]

This seems to be all nonsense because the only aspects of prostitution that are illegal are:

 

* Soliciting so as to cause a nuisance. This depends on the victim filing a complaint with the police.

 

* Being a brothel keeper.

 

* Having commercial sex with a sex worker under 18 in a place of prostitution. They plan to up this to 20.

 

I can't see how making a it legal to keep a brothel or cause a nuisance by harassing blokes who are not interested is going to change their lives, whereas upping the age to 20 will make a lot of existing hookers illegal to their customers who will steer clear of any younger looking girls.

[UK Martin]

The chance of recovering any income tax from these individuals is 0% 

Will they issue a receipt and take a visa card ??

[Bday Prang]

I would expect that many or even all people are hoping that their lives will improve as a result of the election, I also expect that they will all  be disappointed

 

[WHansen]

28 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I can't see it happening, no sane Buddhist orientated government will run the risk of legalizing the sex industry and therefore prostitution, the voters will not go for it, this is still a very much religious country that adhere to the Buddhist teaching. 

From what i've seen, the Buddhist way of life is just lip service for many Thais

[shackleton]

It's about time the Thai government legalized the Sex industry into the 21st Century 

People come to Thailand for Sex the country is well  known for the Sex industry massage parlours bars and so on ????

Why pretend officially it's not happening  people are making money out of this industry let's do it legally ????

 

[Bday Prang]

30 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I can't see it happening, no sane Buddhist orientated government will run the risk of legalizing the sex industry and therefore prostitution, the voters will not go for it, this is still a very much religious country that adhere to the Buddhist teaching. 

Adhere to Buddhist teachings ?  are you having a laugh. Lying is second nature to them , and sexual misconduct is a way of life for many, and  there is a huge drug and alcohol problem in all levels of society,   oops I nearly forgot about how they plunge themselves into debt in order to buy things like large 4x4 vehicles, not out of necessity but as an ostentatious display of imaginary wealth and status,  Hardly inline with the teachings of the Buddha

[Gknrd]

Not long ago they were saying it was a family destination and tried to put the image of Thailand as a sex destination in mothballs. Now weed and sex is what they are banking on. Hummm , 

[Goat]

53 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Adhere to Buddhist teachings ?  are you having a laugh. Lying is second nature to them , and sexual misconduct is a way of life for many, and  there is a huge drug and alcohol problem in all levels of society,   

I suppose it depends what circles you socialise in.

[Yellowtail]

If it's made legal it will be worse for the actual workers and they'll earn even less. 

[Chongalulu]

1 hour ago, UK Martin said:

The chance of recovering any income tax from these individuals is 0% 

Will they issue a receipt and take a visa card ??

Quite possibly…but NO refunds ! ???? 

[robin hood]

5 hours ago, ChipButty said:

The only thing that will change their lives is when it goes back to 60 baht to the pound,

I can remember those lovely days

[JackGats]

 

Double-edged, at least from our manly point of view.

 

Banned yet widely ignored and tolerated is often better than legal and heavy-handedly controlled. Legalisation will come with tons of new requirements. Then the crack-downs for non-observance of said requirements will know no bounds. See many EU countries.

[loong]

4 hours ago, Emdog said:

next time you're out, take a gander at some fat, boorish, ugly old farangs and tell me it wouldn't be work to get in bed with them

You do realise that the vast majority of pros are servicing Thai people?

[bignok]

6 hours ago, proton said:

Not really work though is it ????

Worse than work

[AustinRacing]

If it is legalized it may be worse for them. They will have to pay tax, fixed prices, regular medical checks, banned if broke the law, pay a licensing fee and maybe a few other nonesense this government gets business to do. 

[Pink Mist]

A series of trolling and baiting posts and replies have been removed.  Additionally, a post using only a portion of the posters quote has also been removed.

 

28. You will not make changes to messages quoted from other members posts, except for purposes of shortening the quoted post. Do not shorten any post in a way that alters the context of the original post. Do not change the formatting of the post you are quoting.

[Kopitiam]

They hope to be legalised so that it can become an occupation reserved for Thais only.

[kingstonkid]

7 hours ago, rabiedabruce said:

Fabulous. So interspersed among all the weed shops we will then have 'hello welcome' every other one. Idiot country. Just keep it on the down low.

I take it you have not been to Pattaya or nana recently they already are together.

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

this is still a very much religious country that adhere to the Buddhist teaching.

It is? Really? A pity the monks don't do that. I read a story today of 80 million baht and gold bars buried (read: hidden) behind a temple, found during an investigation of a monk stealing millions in donations for himself.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1294395-80-million-baht-cash-found-buried-at-buddhist-temple-in-thailand/#comment-18072473

 

Edited May 10, 2023 by Bangkok Barry