Sex workers in Belgium are now entitled to formal employment contracts, which include sick pay and maternity leave, under a landmark law that went into effect Sunday.

A groundbreaking law, which gives some sex workers greater labor protections and social benefits than similar legislation elsewhere in the world, is now in effect in the European country.

Her life would have been much easier had she had a right to maternity leave, paid by her employer. Under a new law in Belgium - the first of its kind in the world - this will now

In a world first, sex workers in Belgium have been granted employment rights, including maternity pay and pensions.

Belgium is granting sex workers full labor rights, including health insurance, paid leave and pensions, starting Sunday.

I had to work while I was nine months pregnant. I was having sex with clients one week before giving birth,” said a Belgium sex worker named Sophie, lamenting conditions before the

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Sex workers in Belgium are now able to sign formal employment contracts and gain labor rights similar to those in other fields of work, under a new law enacted on Sunday, December 1.

Under the new law, which took effect Sunday, sex work employees have access to paid public holidays and to Belgium's version of Social Security. Sex workers will also have access to paid sick days, maternity leave, and health insurance plans.

The Belgian Union of Sex Workers called the law “a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers.”