Owing to the non-recognition of sex work as “legitimate work”, sex workers have mostly been kept at arm’s length from the government’s relief programmes. COVID-19 has thus provided more reason to consider a long-pending demand of sex workers in India — decriminalisation of sex work and a guaranteed set of labour rights. This view is based on the belief that sex work is “easy” work and no one will or should choose to practise it. Also read | Include sex work in informal sector: activistWe must recognise sex work as work and stop ourselves from assigning morality to their work. It is time we rethink sex work from a labour perspective, where we recognise their work and guarantee them basic labour rights.

Source: The Hindu June 06, 2021 18:46 UTC