My question asks does it make sense to collect tax and allow three month stays from most countries for women who want to engage in Sex Work and not ever or (periodically) test them for sexually transmitted disease? Even still if they did, many workers are working after their permits have expired and do their best to avoid getting caught by the "Sex Police" which is what they are in fact.
I understand that we don't want to force people and all testing should be done by choice or anonymously because stigma, even among the population in question is alive and well, but in this particular circumstance what are your thoughts?
A second question is if they are indeed "slightly positive" or rather generally undetectable levels of virus should they be allowed to work?
Lastly, it is criminal to pass an infectious disease in this particular jurisdiction, responsibility lies on both parties meaning an investigation of who did what ensues, the law can not be avoided with consent or knowing waived. Does this sever any beneficial outcome? It's my opinion that it doesn't but I would be interested to hear other people's views.
Hi, John,
You are asking for opinions, so I will weigh in on the tax portion of your questions. Yes, I think it makes sense to collect tax, because to not do so presents a horizontal equity problem. If "sex workers" are, legitimately, workers, then why would they not be subject to the same general societal rules as other, non-sex workers? That is, to not tax them the same as other workers is to provide an indirect government subsidy to that industry, and you've not made the case that we should subsidize that work. (I don't have a case for that subsidy either.) There are times perhaps when their income will be too low for tax, and that's ok because income level is what exempts them from tax instead of industry, but my point is, if you're a legal worker and abide by the general tax code. You might review Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations work on how a good tax is a fair tax for support of my position.
Best of luck on your research.
Thank you! That is one of several of my questions! I have read Adam Smith and I agree that “persons who earn money selling sex” should be treated as if it were societally accepted profession. Adding to that, health care coverage, retirement benefit etc....
Now, the kicker and this is important for what I am looking before my eyes, to get your licence no HIV or STI test is required? I have heard from the HIV communitiy that we dont like that but why? And, can someone point me to some studies showing that requiring these tests is negative / positive to overall sociatal and pandemic outcomes?
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