A sex worker in New Zealand is set to receive a six-figure payout as part of a settlement over a sexual harassment case she filed against a business owner. The amount, which was not publicly disclosed but only revealed to be six figures, is meant to compensate the woman for "emotional harm and lost earnings."
The human rights group that represented the woman said on Monday that the case should serve as a reminder that even sex workers have the right to freedom from sexual harassment at work. The group added that the outcome of the case is an important milestone for women's rights.
The identities of the people involved in the case and the details of the proceedings were not made public and remain confidential. Prostitution in New Zealand was legalized back in 2003 after years of debate and campaigns. Groups argued that legalizing the business, believed to be the oldest profession in the world, will be safer if it is legalized.
Since then, sex worker unions and groups have been formed to protect the rights of their members.
"It's great to see a settlement of this type has been awarded in the context of sex work to a sex worker... It takes courage to stand up in the workplace, any workplace," the New Zealand Sex Workers Collective said in a statement.
Under the Prostitution Reform Act, which was drafted by union groups and passed in 2003, brothels in New Zealand were allowed to operate as a legitimate business. Sex workers at New Zealand brothels were also granted full employment rights.
The director of New Zealand's Office of Human Rights Proceedings, Michael Timmins, said on Monday that the settlement should serve as an "important reminder" for all businesses across the country.
"All workers, regardless of the type of work they do, have the right to freedom from sexual harassment in the workplace. We encourage all business owners and employers to ensure that they understand and respect those rights," Timmins said.
