Prostitutes Get Contracts, Profit-Sharing

[Cheyenne]

BERLIN (Reuters) - Prostitutes working in a Berlin brothel have been offered employment contracts with a 40-hour working week and a profit-sharing scheme, a German newspaper reported Monday.

Bild newspaper said Felicitas Weigmann, the owner of the posh Berlin brothel "Cafe Pssst!," drew up the first job contracts for her staff after the German parliament passed a law last year giving prostitutes new employment rights.

In exchange for a regular 40-hour week, prostitutes at "Cafe Pssst!" are entitled to a basic wage of 600 euros per month plus a "profit sharing" payment of 40 euros per client. They can, however, choose to remain free agents without a contract.

The law passed by parliament last year gave prostitutes the right to claim social security, health insurance and a pension. It also allowed them to pursue through the courts customers who refuse to pay.

Prostitution is legal in Germany and prostitutes' earnings were always liable to tax. But before the law was passed, sexual services were legally declared "immoral."

Germany has an estimated 400,000 prostitutes, whose services are used 1.2 million times a day.

 

[Cheyenne]

I guess I have to vote "other" on my own poll! I wouldn't sign up and I wouldn't be an independent contractor. But I also don't think prostitution is wrong in every case. Legalizing it and regulating it (for health reasons) would probably be a positive step in the U.S.

 

[MissTaken]

I dont' believe prostitution is wrong, in and of itself.


If I so desired to be a professional , yes, I would consider working for this Madame.

I voted other.

 

[Monazwx]

Independent all the way!!!

If it's legalized and one can claim health care and pension on their own, then they wouldn't need a Madam. I don't like the fact that profits would be shared. It's all for me baby!!!

 

[Calamity Jane]

What's the exchange rate? Is 600 euros a decent income?

 

[bored1]

How much is a EURO worth in dollars? How many clients would you want to have in an 8 hour day? Wouldnt you get bored or sore?Just Curious

 

[Cheyenne]

What's the exchange rate? Is 600 euros a decent income?

I didn't check, but I think it is a little more than one euro to a dollar. The 600 euros per month wouldn't be decent at all, but the "profit-sharing" portion of 40 per customer could add up nicely if each 40 hour week was a busy one!

 

[April]

600 euros a month? No fucking way!! I can earn more than that by working less than 40 hours a week. And I sure as hell don't have to get nekkid in front of a stranger to do so!

 

[Cheyenne]

600 euros a month? No fucking way!! I can earn more than that by working less than 40 hours a week. And I sure as hell don't have to get nekkid in front of a stranger to do so!

That 600 is the base rate. Think of it as being a waitress earning peanuts from the restaurant but $40 tips from each customer. Sounds a little better doesn't it?

 

[ksmybuttons]

BERLIN The German parliament passed a law last year giving prostitutes new employment rights.

The law passed by parliament last year gave prostitutes the right to claim social security, health insurance and a pension. It also allowed them to pursue through the courts customers who refuse to pay.

Good for the Germans!

I think people who choose prostitution as their profession should have all the benefits and protections available.

They could decide if they wanted to be employed or sole proprietor. I wonder how "reasonable accomodation" would come into play...titilating thoughts.

 

[April]

It's not something I could do.

But it's good that the prostitutes will have some sort of legal protection for their rights.

 

[Juspar Emvan]

I'm in. But the profit sharing better be a reflection of what the worker brings in, not a flat rate, some people can command more from thier customers.