Beyond Decriminalization: Sex-work, Human Rights and a New ...

PIVOT LEGAL SOCIETYrience,” which involves clients paying more money for unsafe sexual services, such as unprotected oralsex. Like some escort services, some massage parlour employers require that workers provide certainservices, and give more clients to the workers who are most compliant. Several participants reportedfeeling compelled to perform services that they are uncomfortable with because their employer hadpromised those services to the client.PrivacyCurrent by-laws require massage parlours and escort agencies to keep records of employees.Participants did not have a particular objection to this rule. However one participant was concernedthat this requirement creates potential violations of privacy because there may be insufficient securityprotecting such records. She felt that these records should be kept under lock and key and not beavailable to clients and other workers.Work and incomeMassage parlour workers made some general observations about the difficulty of the work they do.They emphasized that it is stressful, and that sex workers should be entitled to breaks and vacations.Further, participants said the work they do should count towards welfare entitlements.Massage parlour participants suggested that in-call workers had relatively more control over theirworking conditions than other sex workers. In general they have more ability to choose where andhow the work is done, and what kind of services they provide. However, they noted that there aresome limits to these choices. A sex worker’s degree of choice may reflect her physical assets. Participantssaw physical characteristics as directly linked to the amount of bargaining power a workerpossesses. As they get older, they may experience less demand for their services, in which case theymay be able to exercise less choice over their working conditions.Some massage parlour participants saw their work as a long-term career, although they reportedthat they would no longer be hired by a massage parlour once they are in their late thirties. Otherparticipants saw sex work as a means to a more immediate end, such as financing an education tomake them eligible for a different career.Participants reported that in-call workers can earn a fairly reasonable income. Income varies basedon the age of the worker and her physical attractiveness. Some massage parlour workers declare theirincome for taxation purposes, others do not. One reason to declare income is to allow the worker topay into a RRSP or RESP; if they do not declare any income, they are not eligible for either. Oneparticipant explained that many sex workers do not declare their whole income, and feel this justifiedbecause they are not able to claim expenses in the same way that other workers can.Law enforcementSeveral participants reported that, in Vancouver, criminal and civil laws are rarely enforced againstin-call venues. One in-call worker explained that, in comparison to other cities she has worked,Vancouver police rarely enforce laws against massage parlours. One worker reported that sometimespolice visit massage parlours to check identification for citizenship, at which point illegal immigrantworkers make themselves scarce.In contrast, a participant from Calgary reported that there was a large-scale enforcement sweep oflocal massage parlours at least once a year.Forced labourSome sex workers are engaged in prostitution against their will and in difficult and sometimesdangerous circumstances. Some are disempowered by pimps, who may use coercion and violenceto exploit their labour. Some project participants described working under the control of a pimp28