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Flat-rate prostitution met with stiff resistance

A new twist to marketing the world’s oldest profession is putting sex workers in harm’s way, according to some concerned citizens and women’s rights activists.

A broad spectrum of German politicians from across party lines was engaged in a new initiative to prevent flat-rate fee prostitution on Thursday.

The tumult emerged after a flat-rate brothel in Stuttgart encountered resistance from citizens and women’s rights organizations.

In an open letter to politicians, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, critics called for changes to the prostitution law established in 2002, saying that it degraded women.

The uproar began with the establishment of a flat-rate brothel in Fellbach, near Stuttgart, in June. According to its ad, the brothel invites customers to pay a flat-rate of 100 euros for an all-inclusive offer of food, drinks and prostitution services.

“The protection of the rights of female sex workers must be added to the prostitution law,” said Beate Pollert-Ebinger, a spokeswoman for the “Aktionsbuendnis gegen Sex-Flatrates,” a political action group opposed flat-rate sex services.

Bringing protection to those in need

When the prostitution law first took effect, the intent was to improve the social and legal rights of prostitutes. As a result these nearly 400,000 men and women have access to social insurance, employment contracts and vacation days.

However, many officials and politicians also had a critical view when Stuttgart became the fourth German city to join Berlin, Wuppertal and Heidelberg to open a flat-rate brothel.

“Nobody is being forced to do anything … I’m not aware of any pimps,” said brothel manager Patricia F., who is also in charge of the three other flat-rate brothels across Germany.