Is Escorting Legal in Germany?

Germany has long celebrated legalized prostitution as an example of social justice and decent work, yet the reality is far different. Despite Germany’s reputation as a safe haven for sex buyers, many are infected with STDs, lack access to healthcare and face serious legal obstacles.

Germany’s escorting industry is one of the most popular forms of sex work. This involves paying clients for an intimate experience that’s usually negotiated by a worker at a brothel or other sex agency. Once there, escorts take clients to various places such as saunas, restaurants and rooms at an hourly rate.

Prostitution is an enormous economic force, with an estimated half a million sex workers and billions of dollars in revenue nationwide. Unfortunately, in March a ban on prostitution made much money disappear.

There has been much anger and frustration over the ban. Protests have taken place in Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg; however, so far the government has yet to budge.

The Law to Regulate Sexwork

Germany recently implemented a major change to their prostitution laws: all prostitutes must now register their profession and undergo health checks. This has been met with fierce opposition from sex workers and advocates who claim this infringes upon their privacy rights and could potentially encourage women to work illegally instead.

The Law to Combat Human Trafficking

One controversial aspect of the law is its requirement for Johns to report prostitutes who appear to be working against their will. This could prove particularly hazardous for vulnerable foreign sex workers who lack the resources to defend themselves in court in their home countries and could end up facing prosecution for crimes they didn’t commit.

The law also requires sex workers to register and receive regular health counselling sessions. But critics contend it infringes upon their privacy, leaving them vulnerable to human tracking – an international issue.

Sex Trade Survivors Can Receive Compensation

Last year, Germany passed a law that altered how sex trade survivors could pursue claims for damages. It also opened up opportunities for sex workers to receive social security benefits like holiday, sick pay and pensions.

Unfortunately, only 76 of the estimated 200,000-400,000 sex workers in China have taken advantage of this opportunity. This is partly due to the stigma still attached to prostitution and lack of transparency regarding how many people work there.

Some sex workers are afraid to register, fearing authorities’ attention and their data being recorded in the system. On the other hand, others insist they must provide their contact info as it’s their legal right.

Due to this, many sex workers are reluctant to register, making it difficult for them to access social security benefits. This is particularly true of foreign sex workers from Eastern Europe and other parts of the global south where they may be targeted by human traffickers.