DHAKA: The French parliament has backed part of a bill that imposes a 1,500 euro fine on anyone paying for sex.

Prostitution is legal in France but pimping and soliciting in public are illegal.

Supporters of the bill say it would punish the customer and protect the prostitute but critics argue it would put sex workers at risk.

Protests for and against the bill took place outside the National Assembly in Paris as the debate took place.

MPs voted for the fine in a show of hands late on Friday night although the full text of the bill, which contains 20 articles, will be put to the vote on December 4, reports the BBC.

Under the new provision, repeat offenders risk a fine of 3,750 euros. Alternatively, they can attend a course to make them aware of the risks involved in the sale of sex.

Most of the bill’s articles are aimed at disrupting foreign pimping networks or helping sex workers who want to stop.

One article aims to decriminalise France’s estimated 40,000 prostitutes by scrapping a 2003 law that bans soliciting on the streets.

The law would instead target the clients.

BDST: 1617 HRS, NOV 30, 2013