Salzburg must pay €1 million to prostitutes

It was announced by Salzburg's provincial government that the cost of legally-mandated doctor visits for sex workers of €35 should have been covered by the state, and not by the individual workers.  As a result, all payments made by up to 600 registered sex workers in the region must now be refunded – with an expected cost of between €800,000 and one million euros.

Provincial Finance Officer Christian Stöckl of the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) confirmed the repayments to Austrian regional broadcaster ORF Salzburg, saying "fees were introduced illegally – and so we will have to pay back this money upon request.  When we have to pay back charges levied over the past three years, a sum between €800,000 and one million euros is the result."

The repayments are likely to affect all 600 registered sex workers in Salzburg.  Richard Schweiger, head of the Babylon brothel had instigated the repayments. Originally, he wanted more flexible examination dates for his employees, when he learned that the state should have covered the costs.