- The coronavirus measures left many sex workers with financial problems, while others continued to work illegally despite the risks that entails, according to a new report by researchers at the Erasmus University medical centre and Soa Aids Nederland. In total 300 sex workers took part in the survey during the two years of the pandemic.
Most – 65% – said they had financial problems following the closure of sex clubs and brothels. Many are neither employed or official freelancers and were not eligible for government help. In 2020, half the sex workers in the survey said they carried on working, a figure which rose to 90% in 2021.
‘Some ended up working in more risky locations because they were afraid of police checks,’ researcher Mariëlle Kloek said. ‘They also accepted clients that they would have normally refused.’ In total, 41% of the sex workers in the survey said they had been confronted with physical or sexual violence, particularly those who are young or were born abroad.
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