Cardiff Sex Workers in a Desperate Situation During COVID-19 Lockdown

Sex workers are still fighting for the decriminalization and health support to go through the lockdown crisis.

Sex workers in Cardiff and all over the UK are in desperate health, finance and mental situation during the COVID-19 lockdown, according to sex worker organizations.

English Collective of Prostitutes （ECP）made a statement that as people in the UK practice self-isolation, sex workers are finding themselves unprotected, increasingly vulnerable, and unable to support themselves and their families.

The spokesmen of ECP Cari Mitchell said, “most sex workers are mothers and mainly single mothers who are supporting families in the face of austerity and dire poverty and now they are in the dilemma situation between health and livelihoods.”

There are an estimated 120 women in Cardiff involving in street prostitution according to an inquiry by the council in 2013, Cari said because most of them were working in the family and would not like to expose their information, so it’s impossible to tell the exact number.

Prostitution itself in the UK is not a crime, yet the law prohibits people from working together or in the brothel. Working in groups can prevent people from dangerous situations, and such law exposes sex workers to dangerous situations. 

The recent lockdown makes their situation even worse. Cari said, “surviving without earning money that they’re usually earning is more likely to make them see clients they usually would not see, leading to potentially rise in violence and dangerous consequences.” 

Many sex workers in desperate situations desire easy-to-access financial support for themselves and their families during this hard time.

Iris from the Prostitute Information Centrum (PIC) said: “the COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our business, any immediate donations will help us to empower sex workers with information, support and encouragement.”

Other organizations are fighting for the government’s financial support as well. “We are using this particular time not only to add pressures on governments to end the criminalization of the sex work but also to get financial support from the government,” said Cari from ECP.

The Universal Credit is the UK government’s financial support to help people with a low income or out of work. The statement made by the English Collective of Prostitutes clarified that the sex workers are classed as self-employed or contractors, however, they are not qualified to employee benefits such as statutory sick pay or annual leave.

The process of applying the Universal Credit is quite complicated

“Taxes, rents, and money for food all made me anxious and the whole family relied on me,” said a local sex worker. “My average income is uncertain, and it makes it difficult to report and provide taxes proves for further government support.”

The stressful applying process made them feel more desperate. “The government doesn’t make it easy for anybody to get money. The process is complicated and stressful, and some sex workers may worry about being exposed someway,” said Cari from ECP.

The health issue is another big concern, not only because sex work is a contacting job and the usual contact may bring more chance to contract the virus, but also for the currently closed health service.

According to a joint statement from Global Network of Sex Work Projects and UNAIDS, a great number of sex workers has no access to condoms and essential medicines.

For sex workers who are on HIV treatment, it is hard to meet their visit days as there are no transport and prevention commodities to meet their needs.

Fortunately, some organizations in Cardiff and charities are trying to provide help for local sex workers in need during this trying time.

Safer Wales Organization which operated Street Life Project since 2007 worked remotely to provide some help during the lockdown time. Charity religious groups such as Unlock Cardiff always provide food and safe space for sex workers to help them go through these hardest moments.