It was not how she imagined a fresh start in Spain, but sex work has become a financial lifeline for Peruvian migrant Angela and relatives back home, helping to pay for her father’s cancer treatment and put her brother through medical school.

“You have projects, ideas for life, but life surprises you,” said the 32-year-old, who — like many Spanish sex workers — is angry and worried over ruling party plans to crack down on the sex trade in a bill that sets out to champion women’s rights.

The draft law being drawn up by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party would make it a crime to buy sex, and introduce tougher penalties for pimping — seeking to effectively end prostitution and sex trafficking by tackling demand.

A police officer in Madrid on Oct. 4 removes a fence with protest signs reading: “Sex work brings health and well-being,” “We are all workers” and “Enough,” after a demonstration against a bill to abolish sex work in Spain.

Photo: Reuters

Online sex work, such as video calls, and the production of pornographic photographs and videos fall within the scope of the proposed legislation. Another law already in force bans advertisements for prostitution.

A parliamentary vote on the proposals had been due early this month, but some lawmakers have agreed to talks with sex workers that could lead to amendments being made.

Part of a broader women’s rights push by the Socialists, the draft legislation treats sex workers as victims, rather than criminals as would be the...