Germany can force a woman to work as a prostitute?

Great Debates
41

That’s pretty much it, except that (the last time I had occasion to look at the employer side, which was some years ago) the employer got a feedback form to the effect of : “We have asked $name to apply for the position $position that you notified us on. Please return feedback to us: (box) $name was hired/(box) $name was not hired because…/(box) $name did not apply/…”

As UDS inferred employers do not have an interest in coercing people to work for them - those from the normal job market. Of course the sex industry does coerce prostitutes imported as illegal immigrants, but that’s another story entirely and has no connection with the benefits issue.

42

Actually, two years ago, I was laid off and collecting unemployment benefits for about 7 months. I’m a computer programmer and there were far too few jobs going. I was hardly getting interviews even for contract work. Before my former employer laid me off, they would get 200 or 300 applications for one job. After about 5 months, I realized I couldn’t count on finding work as a programmer, so I started applying for clerical jobs, knowing I’d take a rather significant pay cut. When I received an offer, one of the things I was aware of was that I would lose my unemployment benefits if I didn’t. There were tons of jobs advertised in the Sunday paper, ranging from retail to engineering to high-level business and academic jobs. Given the time I had at my disposal, I only applied for jobs which I felt I could do well and had a chance at getting.

When I lived in Hawaii, I was also laid off for a while. In Hawaii, you had to report to the unemployment office in person and, while I was there, I’d take advantage of their computerized listing of jobs and print out any likely looking ones. In Hawaii, you were required to apply for at least three jobs a week to keep receiving unemployment benefits. One week, I was told I might not recieve benefits because I hadn’t applied for three jobs. What had happened was, while I had printed out jobs from their database, I’d found better ones in the Sunday paper and applied for them instead. They grumbled and, as a compromise, I’d send a resume to at least one of the jobs I’d pulled from their database while continuing to apply for the better ones I’d seen elsewhere.

I suspect this is a specious argument. Yes, in order to recieve unemployment benefits, I couldn’t turn down a job if I was offered it and I had to be actively seeking work. On the other hand, no one was forcing me to apply for let alone take a job as an automechanic or a nursing supervisor. Telemarketing jobs are advertised in the want ads, yet I never felt compelled or inclined to apply for one. If a person would rather not work as a prostitute, I see no reason why he or she should apply for the job.

CJ

43

I think I spelled it out a little more clearly in post #30.

44

Obligatory Snopes link.

45

I know prostitution is the oldest profession, but really…

Daniel

46

I will resist the urge to post links. :stuck_out_tongue:

47

So I guess we should be sympathizing with the pimp? After all, those bitches are always trying to hold back on his money. Don’t they realize if they don’t give him what he needs, he’ll be forced to get violent.

48

This is just rubbish, I can’t find any German sources to this, don’t you think that German opposition parties would be having a field day on this ?

Utter shite and typical of the Europhobe scare stories published by the Daily Torygraph along with fears of Euro legislation amking straight bananas compulsory, and that British sausages are to be banned by some Brussels bureaucrat. Typical middle England xenophobia, and this publication caters to them.

We’ve had similar stories in the UK before, although at a much milder level of sex industry, the Anne Summers chain is renowned for its products and was stopped from advertising in Jobcentres(state run employment agency - of a sort)

Eventually the company won their case against a ban by arguing that other shops sell vibrators and are not on the list of employers deemed unsuitable for Jobcentres, however, its a somewhat unrewarding victory, as unwilling candidates are still not compelled to go there for interview, the jobs are advertised but no more than that.

In any case the European Convention on Human rights, of which Germany is a signatory simply prohibits compelling someone into servitude, which this would be, it would also be in breach of

Articles 3, 4 and 8 and 9.

There is no way on earth that a state can compel a person, by action, coercion, deprivation or any other threat to work unwillingly in the sex industry.

Let us debunk this shitty right wing propaganda now!!!

Actually, its the far right wingers whose advocation of complete and total removal of controls over the market, and removal of social safety nets, who would be most likely to create the sort of situation where this could occur.

49

When come back, bring argument.

50

casdave seems to be correct- here is what Snopes sez:

We’ve been had. :eek:

51

You notice that none of the stories originate from a German paper.

I would say that this is not true.

52

Bah. This story has become ephemeral rubbish. Another line of spin. :dubious:

53

When have answer, post it.

54

Thanks for the clarification. I can see where this will hit the news every once in awhile with some strange job postings.

55

Speak for yourself, sir. I told you the logistics wouldn’t work! (An engineer’s last words.) :wink:

CJ

56

Anyway I should imagine it all is a result of inflexible rules and unthought-of of consequences. Nothing will come of it and no poor German fraulein will have to sell her young body to old and fat and bald (and German!) men. Though I do find it ironic in a poetic sort how the welfare-state finally reveals itself in all its glory: A Pimp. Sell your soul and freedom to the state and soon enough she’ll look to decide over your body as well.

57

Yes, but for all those who can’t read the article, let me add that it doesn’t mention any specific case. It does say that wanted-ads were forwarded to women without referring to anyone in particular.
According to the law the benefits can’t be cut if the unemployed person is “physically, intellectually or mentally not capable” of doing the job or there are “other important reasons” (plus further unrelated specific reasons) So far the job centers agreed that this covers prostitution. The spokesman of the Hamburg job center: “There are still morals and decency.”

58

There are HUGE fallicies here

First no one is being forced to work at anything. They just get an end to the free ride from the government after a whole year of not working and being healthy. Unemployment benefits don’t even last that long in the US, and our welfare system far less, and has similar requirements.

Second Who exactly made the assumption that the only job a woman can find in Germany is as a prostitute? Just because it is legal doesn’t mean that anyone is being forced to do it.

As we know this is basically an urban legend

59

Not even that. In the non-prostitution cases where it actually happens, there is a cut of 30% of the regular benefits for three months (for those who are 25 and older.) Of course at such a low level every cut is painful and the effects add up if you refuse more than one offer, but fortunately it is not so easy to lose all benefits. (However under 25 the cut is far more severe.)

60

The first is somehwat wrong because your third point is completely correct. No one " gets an end to the free ride from the government" for this, as it hasn’t happened and ain’t gonna happen.

I think some Mod needs to close this thread. This situaltion hasn’t happened and isn’t going to. We are debating an UL.