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Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - PunterKing - 01-13-2020
Illegal prostitution in Vienna
In this thread, you can read our articles related to the issue of illegal prostitution in Vienna.
What is the legal status of prostitution in Vienna?
First, it’s important to know that prostitution is legal in Vienna. But that doesn’t mean anyone can work anywhere or however they like. The law has very clear rules to protect both sex workers and the public.
In Vienna, sex work is allowed only under specific conditions. Legal prostitution can happen:
- In licensed brothels
- Through registered escort services
- In designated areas approved by the city
- Register with the authorities
- Undergo regular health checks
- Pay taxes and contributions, just like in any other job
Even though prostitution is legal in Vienna, offering sexual services in private apartments without proper licensing is against the law. That includes:
- Setting up your own business in a rented apartment
- Hosting clients at home without registration
- Working in places that are not authorized for sex work
This kind of illegal activity is often called "apartment prostitution", and it's been growing in recent years — especially through online platforms that advertise unregistered services.
What are the disadvantages of illegal prostitution?
Illegal prostitution creates many serious problems.
1. Health risks: Legal sex workers in Vienna are required to go for regular health check-ups, including tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This helps protect both workers and clients. But in illegal apartment prostitution, there are no health checks. That means diseases can spread much more easily. Clients may not realize they’re putting themselves or others at risk.
2. No safety measures: Licensed brothels are required to meet strict safety standards. This includes secure premises, trained staff, and protocols in case something goes wrong. But in illegal apartments, there’s no protection. Sex workers are more vulnerable to abuse, robbery, or even trafficking. Many are controlled by criminal networks.
3. Unpaid taxes and social contributions: People working in the legal system have to pay income taxes, social insurance contributions, health insurance, chamber of commerce fees (if self-employed). Illegal workers don’t pay any of these. That means they benefit without giving anything back to the system. It also creates an unfair playing field.
4. Unfair competition against legal brothels: Running a legal brothel is very expensive. Owners must pay high licensing fees, taxes on earnings, insurance for workers and property costs. On top of that, they must comply with city inspections, health codes, and security requirements. But illegal operators in apartments skip all of that. They don’t pay taxes or fees, and they often don’t follow any rules. That makes it very hard for legal businesses to survive. Some are even being forced to close.
5. Criminal involvement: Illegal prostitution is often connected to organized crime. That includes human trafficking, coercion and exploitation and drug trafficking. When prostitution goes underground, it’s easier for criminals to hide what they’re doing. Some workers are brought to Vienna by force or tricked into working illegally. They may not even know they’re breaking the law.
6. Harm to neighborhoods and residents: When illegal prostitution happens in normal apartment buildings, neighbors are often affected. Complaints include strange people coming and going, loud noise at night, damaged property and drug use or other criminal behavior. This creates tension in the community, and many residents don’t feel safe in their own buildings. It also brings down the value of property in the area.
What is the city doing about it?
Vienna authorities are aware of the problem. Police regularly raid illegal apartments and shut down operations. In 2023 alone, they inspected over 200 apartments and found hundreds of violations.
Still, the problem is hard to solve because many illegal services are advertised online and move locations often. Some people believe the city should update its laws to better regulate new forms of sex work, while others call for stricter penalties.
Please share your comments and thoughts below!
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - fodor - 01-14-2020
(01-13-2020, 12:33 PM)PunterKing Wrote: I've just read an article about a police action, it was against illegal sex workers in Vienna: https://www.vienna.at/schwerpunkt-gegen-illegale-prostitution-63-anzeigen-in-wien/6065293
The officers checked 18 apartments and 63 reports were filed against illegal sex workers. These women offered their services on the Internet. Few apartmants were also closed becuase offering illegal prostitution there.
The article mentioned that the prostitutes probably infected some clients what sounds bullshit to me, but also shows that these illegal workers offered AO sex. If the police officers follow the online forums of Vienna sex market, it will cause difficulties to illegal prostitutes. Until now, anyone was able to rent an appartment, post few ads and start work as sex worker.
I don't like that the journalist mentionat sexual trasnmitted diseases, it would be not good to associate Vienna with STDs. This was just a usual action from the police, I'm sure that have similar actions many times a year.
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - smurfs - 01-16-2020
It seems the golden age of sex ad portals has just ended. In the future one can expect more strict checks from the authorities, so it does not worth to work illegal.
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - mario - 01-17-2020
(01-16-2020, 04:16 PM)smurfs Wrote: It seems the golden age of sex ad portals has just ended. In the future one can expect more strict checks from the authorities, so it does not worth to work illegal.
As I know it is worth to have your license, it is not expensive and needs only few administrative steps + health check. Of course this can be difficult for those women who can't work legally, but I never visit such places or girls. I am proud that the police do their task and fight against illegal prostitution.
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - PunterKing - 01-17-2020
(01-16-2020, 04:16 PM)smurfs Wrote: It seems the golden age of sex ad portals has just ended. In the future one can expect more strict checks from the authorities, so it does not worth to work illegal.
(01-17-2020, 10:13 AM)mario Wrote:(01-16-2020, 04:16 PM)smurfs Wrote: It seems the golden age of sex ad portals has just ended. In the future one can expect more strict checks from the authorities, so it does not worth to work illegal.
As I know it is worth to have your license, it is not expensive and needs only few administrative steps + health check. Of course this can be difficult for those women who can't work legally, but I never visit such places or girls. I am proud that the police do their task and fight against illegal prostitution.
I agree with both of you. It is nice to see that the Vienna police officers are active enough. I also like that illegal prostitution is prohibited in the city, but we can also admit, than Vienna is a big city and there will be always illegal women. Like it or not, this happens in every biggest cities in the World. And Vienna is not an exception.
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - supertotti - 01-20-2020
It is very nice from the police to take steps to close the illegal places, but this is a never ending story. One day they close 5 places and the other they 5 new place is opened. If there is a need for such brothels, then there will be people to serve it.
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - PunterKing - 01-21-2020
(01-20-2020, 08:08 PM)supertotti Wrote: It is very nice from the police to take steps to close the illegal places, but this is a never ending story. One day they close 5 places and the other they 5 new place is opened. If there is a need for such brothels, then there will be people to serve it.
Haha, of course there will be new illegal brothels in the future too. But the police also must do their work so let them to close these places and share the news with people via newspapers.
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - supertotti - 01-26-2020
(01-21-2020, 10:22 AM)PunterKing Wrote:(01-20-2020, 08:08 PM)supertotti Wrote: It is very nice from the police to take steps to close the illegal places, but this is a never ending story. One day they close 5 places and the other they 5 new place is opened. If there is a need for such brothels, then there will be people to serve it.
Haha, of course there will be new illegal brothels in the future too. But the police also should do their work so let them to close these places and share the news with people via newspapers.
I never said I don't let them to do it. I just said that this is a never ending story.
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - smurfs - 01-27-2020
(01-26-2020, 04:21 PM)supertotti Wrote:(01-21-2020, 10:22 AM)PunterKing Wrote:(01-20-2020, 08:08 PM)supertotti Wrote: It is very nice from the police to take steps to close the illegal places, but this is a never ending story. One day they close 5 places and the other they 5 new place is opened. If there is a need for such brothels, then there will be people to serve it.
Haha, of course there will be new illegal brothels in the future too. But the police also should do their work so let them to close these places and share the news with people via newspapers.
I never said I don't let them to do it. I just said that this is a never ending story.
I don't know why did you say this. Crime never ends so the police have to take it seriously. It is their job and they should investigate such places to close them.
RE: Police action in Vienna against illegal sex workers - firestorm2012 - 01-27-2020
Police is relentless these days, particularly in Vienna. They do their job and it helps. They are thinning out the illegal ones considerably. It's not like the illegal ones can just grow like mushrooms. From what I am reading they are even more relentless in the area around Linz which is the 3rd biggest city of Austria.