James Pitkin Sexual politics In a city known for its streetwalkers and erotic clubs, a councilman prepares legislation that would finally make prostitution a regulated trade. Frustrated by the hazy legal borderline the high-heeled business currently walks, Blazek wants to regulate prostitution as a trade. It would be the Czech government's first-ever attempt to take control of a realm the underworld currently rules by default. We accept prostitution, but it isn't controlled.
Prostitutes nationwide: 5, Sex clubs nationwide: Sex clubs in Prague: More than 60 Annual sex-industry profit: 3 billion Kc. Blazek is in the early stages of drafting a bill that could see prostitution become a lawful industry in the capital as early as If he has his way, brothel owners would need a license, prostitutes would carry certificates of health and, of course, taxes would be levied. But not if Eva has any say.
On a bitterly cold night, the baby-faced year-old from Brno stands alone under a looming Gothic archway in downtown Prague. Informed of Blazek's designs, she balks defiantly. I stand out here and freeze. This job is hell on my nerves, and they want me to pay taxes for that?
I'd never do it, and no one would ever get me to register myself. Eva, however, is a cog in a big industry; one of about 5, women plying the trade nationwide. For a heavily indebted government, that's a hefty sum to abandon to the black market.
So I think the regulation of this money, and setting conditions to own a sex club, is necessary. Blazek's proposal follows an established trend in Western Europe. Holland led the way when it legalized prostitution as a profession in Prostitutes are members of the Service Sector Union, and began paying income tax in In neighboring Germany, prostitutes are legal and receive state medical insurance.
