Germany vows to ban flat-rate sex in brothels

Germany's new coalition government says it will propose a ban on flat-rate sex in brothels as part of upcoming reforms to the country's booming prostitution industry.

Critics say prostitution has gotten out of hand since sex work was legalized in Germany in 2002.

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Flat-rate sex allows customers to pay a fixed amount for as much sex as they want.

Anja Strieder, spokeswoman for the center-left Social Democrats, confirmed a report Monday by Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that a ban was agreed during coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Union bloc.

Better protection for victims of enforced prostitution and stricter rules for brothel operators, or "johns," will also be included in reforms to the Prostitution Act.

The legislation will be introduced once the government is formally appointed next year, The Local reported.

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A decade after Germany legalized big-money brothels and recognized prostitutes' rights as workers in some of the world's most liberal prostitution laws, business is booming.

Organized sex workers say the trade is safer and healthier than ever.

But a surprise campaign by the country's most prominent feminist is invigorating longtime enemies of the oldest profession who argue that the changes have turned Berlin and other towns into city-sized discount stores for sex.