Belgium became the first nation in the world to permit sex workers to sign formal employment contracts — giving them access to such benefits as sick days, annual vacation, maternity pay, and a pension — when a law came into effect on Sunday, NPR has reported.

The new law, which was passed in May, also enshrines fundamental rights for sex workers such as refusing clients and setting the conditions of an act, including stopping at any moment.

“I am a very proud Belgium sex worker right now,” Mel Meliciousss, who is part of the Belgian union of sex workers, UTSOPI, said on her Instagram. “People who are already working in the industry will be much more protect[ed], and also people who are going to work in the industry also know what their rights are.”

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