Work and Income refuses sex advert

01.07.2003
2.45pm

The Department of Work and Income has refused to accept a job vacancy notice for sex workers.

Auckland massage parlour owner Brian Le Gros placed an advertisment for workers in the Situations Vacant section of today's New Zealand Herald.

Mr Le Gros also tried to place the notice with the department but it was rejected.

Work and Income national commissioner Ray Smith said the department would not advertise or refer clients to vacancies in the sex industry.

The department had no legal requirement to advertise any vacancy and did so as part of its efforts to help job seekers into "sustainable employment", he said in a statement.

"Work and Income makes no apologies to industry operators for refusing to promote sex as a job option."

Mr Smith said the department had declined to advertise certain vacancies in the past, including those in massage parlours, commission-only sales and network marketing.

He added that advocates for the Prostitution Reform Bill had made it clear that the legislation was intended not to normalise prostitution, but to protect current sex workers.

The bill passed through Parliament last week by the margin of a solitary vote.

Mr Le Gros' job vacancy notice for The White House massage parlour said: "The oldest profession in town is now a legal profession".

Mr Le Gros said the department was acting illegally. "I'm going to pursue it, because as far as I'm concerned, that's breaking the law that has just been set."

Mr Le Gros also said he was in favour of legalising prostitution, but he was upset parlour owners like himself had not been consulted about the bill.

Apart from seeking employees with his advertisement, he was also making a point.

"You imagine a big billboard on the main highway saying 'prostitutes wanted'.

"I approve of the legislation, but what I'm doing is letting parliamentarians know what is coming their way. This is just the tip of it."