In this time of crisis that we have been dragging, and with the great fall that the tax collection has suffered, which has caused debates on the sustainability of our pension system and its reform, the financing deficit of the autonomous communities and municipalities have derived in an asphyxiating fiscal pressure. Thus, the debate on the legalization of prostitution.
To illustrate the situation better, we will see the numbers that the prostitution sector manages. The estimated amount of this is 3. To give you an idea, this supposes a volume similar to the footwear industry in Spain or to the contribution of the city of Malaga.
That is, we spend much more on sex than on car insurance, buying fruit or vegetables. Now is when the question arises, should we regulate the sector? This is one of the largest money movements in the country, which could contribute to the desired increase in tax collection. Why is it legal to sell tobacco if it generates thousands of deaths and illnesses a year, spending millions of euros on campaigns to stop smoking and generates a huge expenditure on public health?
The tax reason seems enough to allow it to be legal to smoke. Now we come to see, briefly, the Dutch model, where prostitution was legalized in the year and already have extensive experience. In the Netherlands, the sector moves the 2, million euros, that is to say to 0. The legalization of prostitution was coming at the same time than laws against sexual abuse and protection of minors. Prostitution has been banned on the streets and can only be done in rooms equipped for this purpose, each escort girl has to pay for private health insurance, like any Dutch worker.
As taxes are paid for this activity, the system is controlled through a licensing system, and final regulation is given to the cities. At the sametime than this legalization, any means of sexual exploitation is considered an offense punishable by imprisonment and the legal age for engaging in prostitution was raised from 18 to Clubs, escorts girls' agencies, X rooms, couples bars, or prostitution in private homes are allowed and regulated by a licensing system, and only in 13 Dutch cities are the famous showcases allowed, such as the famous of the Red Light district of Amsterdam.
