The Can Do Bar: turning tricks into a fair trade

I thought prostitution was illegal in Thailand? Apparently not, because there is a new bar strictly dedicated to it right here in Chiang Mai.

The "Can Do" Bar's grand opening on Friday, 16 September stood as not only a new Chiang Mai night spot, but as a stronghold for sex workers throughout Thailand.

A self proclaimed "experimental - dream bar" run by Empower Foundation, the bar is owned and operated by sex workers. A vibrant energy packed the pub as girls performed skits, music blasted and girls danced a go-go with the poles, while friends brought bouquets of condoms welcoming the Can Do to its new home in Chiang Mai Land.

What exactly is the Can Do bar I wondered, apart from yet another sexual service station? According to Empowers farang frontrunner Liz, it is a "fun and friendly place to drink, fall in love, fall over, sing, learn to pole dance, laugh, and relax." But, furthermore the "Can Do complies with all Thai Labor Laws and the recommended occupational health and safety standards."

The three story structure is painted like a Christmas revival, red with green trimming, or that from scenes inside The Matrix. From the bottom up, the downstairs has a roadside patio, full bar, seating, and dual dancing polls on the dance floor. The second floor hosts an exhibition space showing 20 years of "Honey Bee" cartoons featured in the sex workers newsletter, "Bad Girls." Adjacent is a sex workers' museum, with reportedly expensive shag carpeting. Red lighting highlights posters on the walls reading "NOT drowning- waving! Workers not victims" and "it's not what we do…its how we do it." Bookshelves are lined with titles such as Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl and "SPREAD: Tricking all over the world". Among archives included are posted letters covering 400 years of prostitution in Thailand. The third floor has resting quarters for the girls, as well as counseling and conference rooms.

Women feel privileged to work here as the "Can Do" bar is a fair, safe, working environment, a first in the industry. A bar like this, "should have been legitimized a long time ago" claims local author, Mo Tejani.

On opening night, I sat down and spoke with Pilaiporn (Nui), a former sex worker turned Empower staff activist and Tipakson, a PNN Journalist and good friend. In brief intervals our conversations began and continued throughout the night with breaks for dancing and shameless theatrical skits.

She began by telling us her experiences as a sex worker. "Bar working is complicated work as there are many things to do and we work in unfair conditions. The Can Do bar is a fairness bar - where we can service our customers with good standards" and just then we were interrupted by ear piercing whistle blows from a girl dressed in a police uniform.

"Check Point" a skit whose moral is wrap your member with a rubber before sex, was acted out by sex workers dressed as some of their regular clientele: Japanese tourists and Thai businessmen.

After "Check Point" - that thing is not coming near me with without a hoody on it - Nui continued. Firstly, we don't get paid overtime compensation. "As bar workers, we work late because we have to wait for the customers to leave, which is usually around 3 a.m. We don't get what the standard salary in Chiang Mai is; at least 150 Baht per day, instead we normally get a salary of about 3,000 baht per month or (100 baht per day). When we are sick we use our own money to go to the doctor or hospital. We can't claim to refund the money from our work place. The work place never gives us money for health care insurance at all."

Secondly, in regards to sanitation, there are no standards. "The bar I used to work for has only one bathroom for staff and costumers alike. It was not enough as we had a staff of 10 and many costumers, all needing to use the one bath room at the same time. It's like they put everything in one room, it's a mess, and putting us at risk of contagious diseases," she finished.

Working under the guidelines of labor and social security laws, the ladies are offered social welfare as part of their employment, something that is not regularly offered through other bars. They have an 8 hour schedule with a 1 hour break for rest, as well as one day off a week. Occupational health and safety issues are upheld to standard government regulations.

I wondered what made a girl lucky enough to work under such revolutionary conditions. Nui continued, "Everybody who wants to work here must expose themselves as a sex worker. We want for other people to acknowledge that whether a laborer/employee or a sex worker, both have the rights to work. And, the girls must be 18," that's all we ask.

No matter how grand it all seemed at the grand opening, I'm still not sold on the whole sex for sale concept to begin with. While at the party, I had the chance to chat with a Thai friend (who chooses to remain nameless) I'd met a few days earlier on a cultural tour of Lamphun. I asked him his opinion about sex workers rights and in well spoken English he answered, "We have to admit that this issue is a real controversy in Thai society. Many people don't understand the willingness of the people who sacrifice working to make society understand in sex worker's rights as a part of the greater human rights scope. But, I think it is hard because in general many people just deny this topic and believe that sex work is immoral."

Pornpit Pakmai, Coordinator of Empower Chiang Mai, whose nickname is ironically, Porn, claims that "people look at sex workers as if they are not human…Why do these women not have the rights to protect themselves and their bodies from abuse and violence in the work place?" Sex workers rights are human rights, per Empowers fight."

Found in 1985 the organization currently has 5 facilities from Phuket to Mae Sai with drop-in centers offering computer and informal English training, health education, counseling and other support to sex workers.

A former Empower volunteer has a strong opposing viewpoint towards the goals of the Foundation. She wrote me a letter expressing her thoughts after working with the women and asked to remain nameless. "They glorify prostitution and want women to be able to exploit men more. Perhaps in a safer environment - yet all the same, I don't feel they 'empower' women to have more choices in their lives" other than to be sex workers.

"Opening night means nothing, it is what you do with it I suppose… it is not much different than a one night stand," claims Mo curb side late night, "and you can quote me on that!" It made me wonder what he's really doing at the bar...

Can the Can Do bar form a favorable relationship as a night spot locale where sex workers can turn their tricks into fair trade? Or, was it simply a one night stand?

Written By: Lisa Ashley Warshaw
Translations provided by Tipakson Manpati

Original link: http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=1637