- A proprietor is someone who runs a sex business
- You can work for a proprietor as a self-employed person, or in or under the opting-in scheme. In rare instances you can work for a salary
- If you work for a proprietor, you have rights and obligations
- The operator also has obligations
- Doesn’t the proprietor comply with the obligations? You can report this to the Inspectie SZW (Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid) (Social Affairs and Employment Inspectorate)
What is a proprietor?
A proprietor is someone who runs a sex business. They need a permit to do that.
Examples of sex businesses are:
How do you work for a proprietor?
There are various ways you can work for a proprietor:
- As a self-employed person: you organize your own work and apply for your own work permit. You do make certain work arrangements with the proprietor you are working with
- Under the opting-in scheme:
- You have a contract that contains certain arrangements, but you are not paid a salary
- The proprietor you work for pays taxes and premiums for you to the Tax Authorities and withholds this from what you earn
- The proprietor must have a permit and be registered with the Chamber of Commerce. You are not responsible for this
- You work for a salary (but this almost never happens)
Rights
Do you work for a proprietor? Then they have certain obligations to you:
- Safe sex policy; the proprietor advertises that they offer safe sex
- The proprietor allows inspections by the municipal health service (GGD)
- A clean workplace where you can wash yourself and where clean towels and sheets are available
- Being able to offer help immediately if you have problems with a client (a security guard or panic button, for example)
- Even if you work as an escort (you go to the client), your workplace must be safe. For example, at a client’s home or in a hotel
As a sex worker, you have these rights:
- You have the right to a clear contract and a copy of it
- You can also work for another proprietor
- You are allowed to keep any extra money from a client for additional work
- You don’t have to do any additional or different work you don’t want to
- You determine where and when you get tested for STIs
- One-and-a-half days off a week. Or three days off during a two-week period
- Enough time to rest during work. You work a maximum of 12 hours a day and 48 hours a week
Rights if you’re self-employed
Are you self-employed and work for a proprietor? In that case, you have another right: determining your own price, working hours and how you work.
Obligations
You also have obligations if you work for a proprietor:
- You must comply with the work schedule or your schedule
- You must comply with the agreements you made with the proprietor
Report to the Inspectie SZW
Is a proprietor not paying you enough? Or do you work at an unhealthy and/or unsafe location? You can report this to the Inspectie SZW (Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid) (Social Affairs and Employment Inspectorate).
With your report, the Inspectorate can launch an investigation.
Properly organize your work affairs
Do you want to know more about your rights and obligations as a sex worker? And what about taxes, permits and working as a self-employed person (zzp’er)? You can find the information in various languages on Prostitutie Goed Geregeld.