World's oldest profession should be legal: Thai official

Udon Thani Industrial Council chairman Prayoon Homewong says the current government should legalize prostitution like has already been done in the Philippines with great success.

"We can never get rid of it. So, I think we should pass laws to regulate it," Prayoon said at a meeting with relevant authorities in Udon Thani.

He described "prostitution" as an old profession, which many foreign countries, including countries in Asia, have legalized, regulated and taxed.

Prayoon said sex crimes would soar if the government ever tried to stop it in its current form.

If prostitution is legalized it would actually improve perceptions because foreign and Thai men would not wonder who was a working girl and who is of a more traditional occupation. In Pattaya in particular, there is a real problem with foreigners mistaking regular women out shopping as prostitutes, thus creating all kinds of problems.

 
If ladies were in commercial venues with name tags, health check ups and proper training to prevent sexually transmitted diseases the entire country could benefit. If there was a tax placed on licenses this would improve the economy.

"If there were laws to regulate prostitution, sex workers would be eligible for legal protection and benefits, while the government would earn income from the tax," Prayoon said. "And it would be easier to control."

He added that red-light district zoning could be imposed once laws were passed, before urging MPs and ministers to seriously consider his proposal. Pattaya has developed an "Entertainment Zone' restricting adult nightlife to the area west of Third Road to Beach Road and from North Pattaya Road to and including Walking Street.

Friends of Women Foundation director Thanavadee Thajeen agreed with imposing zoning and providing prostitutes with access to social security in line with other careers, but moves towards a prostitute-regulation system could only come after consultation with relevant groups.

"There are so many karaoke lounges and other night spots with covert prostitution and some are located near temples and schools. Zoning could help solve this problem," Thanavadee said.

"However, I don't agree with the registration system because it could adversely affect sex workers.

Registration means a woman is willing to be stigmatized for the rest of her life as a prostitute, which may affect her chance of finding another other job in the future," she said.

Thanavadee urged relevant agencies to organize public forums in each region like Chonburi province for prostitutes to discuss their problems with women's rights activists. Then it would become clear whether the prostitutes want regulation or not, she said.