Massage parlours offering sexual services spreading STIs, Labour MP tells parliament

In addition to spreading diseases, massage parlours offering sexual services also risk casting bona fide masseuses and their clients in a bad light according to Etienne Grech

Labour MP Etienne Grech
Labour MP Etienne Grech

Labour MP Etienne Grech has called on parliament to address any potential loopholes in the law that might be allowing, what are in essence brothels, to operate under the guise of massage parlours.

“I feel that it is time for the issue to be tackled on the level of enforcement, as well as from a legal perspective,” said Grech, “there is clearly a legal limbo that is allowing these parlours to operate.”

Speaking during parliamentary adjournment, Grech said that the fact that the practice doesn’t seem to go against law, emboldens and normalises the practice, to the detriment of society.

Citing a number of news reports that were published in recent days, Grech said the parlours were also contributing to the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

“One report said that the number of people visiting the GU clinic has increased from 15 to 40,” said Grech, adding that the clinic also had information showing that a considerable amount of men in their 60s and 70s were frequenting these parlours very often.

The MP, who is also a medical doctor, pointed out that since these parlours operate under the radar, they not regulated or inspected by health authorities, further compounding the problem.

In addition to this he said that parlours that offered sexual services risked needlessly casting stigmatizing bona fide masseuses and their clients in a bad light since it is difficult for people to distinguish between the different types of establishment.