In Luzern, the cost of renting a room in brothels is getting very high, which is making things really tough for sex workers. Many of them are being forced to offer their services for very low prices. The charity Bloved says this situation is leading to exploitation and human trafficking.
More pressure on sex workers
Sex workers in Luzern are under a lot of pressure. Besides the high cost of rooms, many women are facing abuse and are victims of human trafficking. Christina Jeremić, a social worker and team leader at Bloved, says that women are often tricked with false promises to get them to work in Luzern’s sex industry.
Jeremić explained that renting a room in a brothel can cost up to 170 Swiss francs per night, which forces the women to lower their prices. Because of this, sex is sometimes offered for very little money, and often the women have no choice. They are stuck with these high room prices.
Jeremić also said that the price of sex services in Luzern is like any other market. When there is a lot of demand, prices go up, but when rents are high, prices drop quickly. She added that the current situation forces these women to sell their services for less money.
Human trafficking happens when people are recruited, moved, or exploited through violence, lies, threats, or force. Jeremić confirmed that human trafficking is a problem in Luzern, especially in places where it is hard for charities or the public to see what is happening.
Many women provide sex services in private apartments, with clients arranged by pimps. Jeremić said it is hard to stop human trafficking and exploitation in these situations because women are often tricked with fake photos and false promises, and authorities and support organizations do not know the real conditions.
Simon Kopp, spokesperson for the Luzern Prosecutor’s Office, said that the rent prices in brothels follow regular legal rules. He also said that the Luzern police always know what is happening across the canton.
Women who cannot pay for their rooms because they do not have enough clients are often threatened with the police. Jeremić explained that this scares the women, especially if they do not speak German well. Some of them stay in Switzerland without passports and are completely dependent on other people.
Sex workers can find better work conditions in Vienna
The situation for sex workers is much better in Vienna. Women have many opportunities there, as the city has different types of brothels. Providing sexual services from apartments is illegal in Vienna, but brothels are always looking for new girls.
The best sex clubs in Vienna offer high-class earning opportunities for women who can speak at least German or English. There are also many escort agencies for women who prefer escorting instead of working in brothels. These options give women more choices and better working conditions compared to Luzern.
Don’t miss our article where we listed the best brothels in Vienna: