TAIWAN

Sex workers now all illegal

From South China Morning Post, 28 March 2001

A ‘buffer period’ granted to Taiwan’s 130 licensed prostitutes, giving them a reprieve when the government banned sex work two years ago, expired on 28 February.

Critics are confident the move to close down 19 legal brothels in Taipei will merely drive the business underground. Taipei city councillor, Chin Li-fang said, “On the surface this is a country without a sex industry, but in fact there are prostitutes everywhere.”

There is a huge illegal supplementary sex business in Taiwanese cities, disguised behind fronts like barber shops, piano and karaoke bars, saunas, and massage parlours.

The move can only have a bad effect on sex workers. It removes the government’s ability to monitor the industry and sexual health of the women involved, and deepens the official and social stigma which encourages discrimination against them.