A stripper in a New Orleans club in 2005 (AFP/Archives/MENAHEM KAHANA)
Strippers in Washington State, in the northwest of the United States, are now protected by real labor law, thanks to a law establishing a precise framework for the exercise of their profession.
Promulgated on Monday, this text applies to the clubs in which the vast majority of strippers work and represents a major step forward for a very poorly regulated profession.
It requires that employees of establishments be trained in the prevention of sexual harassment, the reporting of human trafficking, conflict management and the administration of first aid.
“Strippers are workers and they should have the same rights and protections as any other workforce,” said Rebecca Saldana, the local Democratic Party parliamentarian behind the bill, in a statement.
This charter of rights also requires the presence of security agents in clubs, the installation of codes in changing rooms and alert buttons in places where workers may find themselves alone with customers.
The text finally plans to cap the fees that strippers, often treated as self-employed, must pay for the use of the club.
To finance the implementation of this new framework, the State of Washington will authorize clubs to sell alcohol, which was prohibited until now.
This new law is part of a more general movement in the United States to have the rights of strippers recognized.
Last year, workers at a bar in Los Angeles, California, and those at an establishment in Portland, Oregon, won the right to unionize.
This progress makes it possible to regulate a profession often compared to a jungle, where abuses are common: workers’ remuneration is not always paid correctly, and their health and safety is sometimes compromised.
“It is essential that we address the stigma surrounding adult entertainment and recognize the humanity of those who work in this sector,” added Ms. Saldana.
© 2024 AFP
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