17 Sydney brothels have joined forces cosigning a letter to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard requesting a trial period to lift the ban on their business as the state begins to relax coronavirus restrictions.
Like many industries, the coronavirus pandemic has had dire impacts on sex work. However, unlike the beauty, hospitality or health industries, the government are yet to announce a plan to reintroduce sex work services to society.
The sex work industry has penned a letter, outlining a plan to operate in the coronavirus era. The letter outlines safety precautions that brothels would take to ensure that they are as safe as other professional services. These strategies include guaranteeing that clients have downloaded the COVIDSafe app, interviewing clients about their recent travel and health, intensifying cleaning and hygiene for clients and workers and more.
“If the government deemed it appropriate to allow a trial period for reopening, we believe our industry would understand that if an infection with COVID-19 was traced to an individual at that sex services premises, that venue would be required to cease trading while investigations were in train as in any other industry or workplace including as happens in schools,” spokesperson for the group Julie Bates shared, via the Daily Telegraph.
“Our mitigation measures and reopening safety plans range from limiting the number of people on the premises at any one time, isolation of clients on arrival and questioning their recent travel and health status, separate rooms for service providers, cleaning processes and hygiene requirement for both clients and service providers, training of all personnel, information sharing with clients, limited service time and specific services to be allowed, attention to airflow by opening windows and limiting air conditioning through to record keeping for contact tracing purposes if needed.”
It’s completely unjustifiable for the government to allow pubs, salons, cafes and gyms to reopen whilst keeping the sex work industry in the dark. With over 100 legal brothels operating in Sydney (pre-coronavirus), it’s an instrumental industry that pays taxes, provides employment and fuel the state’s economy and should be treated with the same consideration as all other businesses that the government are so vocally determined to see thrive.
“We are a legitimate industry and contribute to the state’s revenue source and provide significant employment and opportunities for people to earn income — including receptionists, shift managers, cleaners and service providers,” Ma Belle Cheri owner Kate told the Daily Telegraph.
“Cleanliness and health are at the top of our minds. If we don’t maintain our hygiene that affects our ability to work, our reputation and livelihoods,” Scarlet Alliance CEO Jules Kim told news.com.au. “If you could only see our laundry bills. We go through plenty of sheet and towels.”
