73 Workers in adult entertainment

Submitted by Equity

All workers have a right to earn a living and to access trade union membership, representation and support. Congress reaffirms its commitment to representing all workers, regardless of workplace or industry, including those in the adult entertainment sector.

Under the proposed Policing and Crime Bill, a large number of venues will be reclassified as ‘sex encounter establishments’ and will require Sex Encounter Establishment Licences in addition to the existing premises licence. This could cost up to £30,000 per venue.

Congress believes that this legislation will reduce the number of workplaces available to workers such as dancers. Already there have been instances where local councils have introduced additional licensing requirements. Consequently, burlesque and other dance events have been cancelled and performers have lost work.

Congress further believes that use of the terms ‘sex encounter’ and ‘sex establishment’ gives the wrong expectation of the work dancers do in this field of entertainment.

Entertainment venues that currently employ professional dancers are sufficiently covered by the Licensing Act 2003. Congress therefore calls for the removal of Section 26 of the Policing and Crime Bill.