When New Zealand passed full decriminalisation, things changed in unexpected ways and I came to understand that the myths of legal protection, autonomy, increased choice and greater community acceptance were unfounded. We didn’t have the legal protections we expected because we sat in a grey area between employee and independent contractor. On paper, we were independent contractors but this was only true in terms of not receiving an hourly wage, sick pay, holiday pay, superannuation or any other employee benefits.
We were not considered employees despite brothel owners, escort agency owners and other third party profiteers deciding our starting hours, finishing hours, amount of shifts per/week, pay rates and attire including shoes, hair styles, nail polish and makeup. On top of this the brothels began to charge us to work there and fine us if we didn’t live up to ‘employee’ expectations. Unlike every other independent contractor, we were denied the right to work at multiple businesses.
Pay rates decreased. Fees and fines increased. Shift hours were up to seventeen hours per/night. Shifts had three times as many women as were feasible to make a decent income. Competition grew fierce and safe sex practices became a thing of the past.
The myth of health being better was proved false in less than 6 months of the law reform. Women were kissing and risking herpes, doing oral sex without condoms with the risk of throat warts, doing rougher and riskier practices just to get the jobs. I did doubles with many women and saw these things happening first hand.
I experienced the long hours, nightclub level music, painful heels and increased competition. I dealt with punters changing expectations. I had no choice but to fight against this model ever spreading to another country.
