German plan to ban `flat-rate` offers in brothels

Berlin: Germany`s biggest political parties have agreed to ban so-called flat-rate sex offered by some brothels in the country. The move is part of a clampdown on Germany`s booming prostitution industry that critics say has gotten out of hand since a 2002 law legalized sex work. They view as exploitative the special offers in some brothels where men can have unlimited sex for 100 euros. Anja Strieder, spokeswoman for the center-left Social Democrats, confirmed a report today by Germany`s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that a ban was agreed during coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel`s conservative Union bloc. She said better protection for victims of enforced prostitution and stricter rules for brothel operators will also be included in a bill that could be introduced once the government is formally appointed.