Job centers in Belgium have started asking if out-of-work Belgian actors would like to try their hand at starring in pornographic films. Actiris, a public employment agency in Brussels, has been the subject of criticism from politicians, who are demanding that the question be struck from a list for jobseekers.
Penalties can be imposed by Actiris on people refusing to work, which has only intensified the controversy.
Françoise De Smedt, Workers Party of Belgium leader, said in Brussels’ regional parliament: “This is downright scandalous.
“This is a government service that should help jobseekers find a decent job. Jobseekers really should not be faced with such proposals.
“By the way, it’s also creating a number of very uncomfortable moments for Actiris advisers!”
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She added that the “trivialisation” of sex work was “totally unacceptable on the part of a public service”.
She questioned: “Does this mean that an artist looking for a job who does not agree to act in a pornographic movie can be punished?”
The Telegraph reports that the contentious questionnaire asks the actors and artists how happy they would be to perform in a variety of different types of work, including radio dramas, short films and pornographic films.
Romain Adam, Actiris spokesperson, said the question was “not a proposal but a question”.
He said: “The questionnaire serves to determine what job-seeking artists and actors are interested in and where they want to work.
“The questionnaire should give us an insight into that.
“And there is nothing wrong with that.”
He added that the same questionnaire was also being used in other federal regions Flanders and Wallonia.
He said: “If it is decided at the political level that this question should be removed, we will do so. But for the moment, no such decision has been taken.”
