France Coaxes Foreign Streetwalkers to Move On With Residence Permits

French authorities plan to provide foreign prostitutes with six month residence permits in a bid to help them escape the sex trade, according to media reports.

Foreign prostitutes in France will be offered six month residence permits if they agree to participate in "the exit program," something that is thought will help sex workers escape the trade, media reports said.

The measure is part of a controversial law on prostitution which was adopted by French parliament earlier this week which imposes fines of up to 3,750 euros (4,270 dollars) on prostitutes' clients.

Law 'makes it easier' for foreign #sexworkers to get *temporary residence* IF they LEAVE prostitution. Otherwise, as I said — leave France.

— Laura Agustín (@LauraAgustin) 6 апреля 2016 г.

As far as residence permits are concerned, the move is a move to reduce the number of foreign prostitutes in France, which currently account for up to 80 percent of the total number of sex workers in the country. Most of the sex workers come to France from Eastern Europe or Africa.

France bans prostitution! Can't help thinking MPs who passed this law have kind of shot themselves in the foot here. Where will they go now?

— LESLIE NEMES (@LESLIENEMES) 7 апреля 2016 г.

Strass, the main sex workers union in France, has already denounced the measure as "blackmail". The union's censure was echoed by others, who said the law may encourage foreigners to become prostitutes solely in order to obtain a residence permit.

Titre de séjour pour les prostituées étrangères ou comment encourager la mise sur le trottoir en vue du regroupement familial. #Prostitution

— Sylvie Goddyn (@Sylvie_Goddyn) 7 апреля 2016 г.

"Residence permit for foreign prostitutes or how to encourage being on the sidewalk for family reunification," Sylvie Goddyn, a member of Marine Le Pen's National Front, wrote on her Twitter page.

Here's a solution for Prostitutes in France… they should be demand payment in Bitcoin LoL

— 牡羊座サムライ (@IamBaruxhApata) 8 апреля 2016 г.

Under the new law, clients caught paying prostitutes for sex will be fined 1,500 euros, which will rise to 3,750 euros for repeat offenders. The law has been on the table since December 2013, when it was first submitted to the French parliament.

French prostitutes protesting in France

They all look North African pic.twitter.com/i2H3XZ1xdD

— Walēd (@thelateempire) 8 апреля 2016 г.

France's move mirrors a US plan under which victims of human trafficking are provided what are known as T-visas, which allow victims to remain in the country for four years after having escaped sexual slavery.

Notably, during the final debate on the bill, about 60 sex workers staged a protest rally outside a parliament building, news reports said, adding that the law is expected to affect the livelihoods of at least 30,000 prostitutes in France.