An update of this earlier report on 'workfare prostitution' in the Netherlands.

 http://www.uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=18929

A spokesman for the Netherlands central employment office CWI confirmed today, that they have started offering jobs as prostitutes in sex-clubs. At present he knows of only 2 sex-clubs which have registered vacancies with them. The CWI registers only work under contract of employment, but most women working in sex-clubs are technically self-employed. In addition the CWI has 2 unemployed women officially registered as prostitutes seeking work as prostitutes. Another 6 women are registered as ex-prostitutes no longer seeking this work.

Small numbers, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. The registration means that unemployed women can now be compelled to work as a prostitute, and to accept one of the jobs offered. The newspaper which first reported one of the vacancies last Saturday gave details: the candidates can choose whether they want to engage in oral sex, vaginal sex, or anal sex. (This all hangs on the notice board in the employment office, perhaps they should keep children away).

Since the CWI is the official registration point, claimants can not challenge the work as being illegal. Claimants in the Netherlands are obliged to accept any work which is offered, after they have been unemployed for one year. (In the first year, they are only obliged to accept work in their previous profession). Jobs offered through the CWI are normally the first which will be imposed on claimants. In reality, most placements of claimants are now carried out by private companies, in some form of workfare scheme. These companies and agencies are far more likely to place vulnerable women in a sex-club than the official CWI. The policy change at the CWI is however a green light for them to do so. (In theory the obligation to accept sex work can apply to men as well, the law makes no distinction).

Why this policy shift? It is a combination of a hard-line policy against the unemployed, and the full legalisation of prostitution in 2001. Until then prostitution itself was not illegal, but 'brothel-keeping' was - all sex-clubs were technically illegal. Now they are legalised, they can recruit staff in the same way as any other employer. That includes asking the benefit authorities, to force claimants into unpopular jobs.

In theory a sex-club owner can sit outside the door of the Social Security office, and approach any woman claimant. He can offer her a job as a prostitute, and she must accept the work. If she refuses, he can go inside and request (as an employer) that her benefit is stopped. It is unlikely, but it would be fully legal under current Netherlands law. It illustrates the underlying philosophy of workfare - that the claimant becomes the property of the benefit agency, to be used as they wish.

Campaigners who want to legalise prostitution (in other countries), ought to think first about the implications.