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Cabarets
in Focus
LEGALISED
PROSTITUTION
V HONEST
EMPLOYMENT?
It was
obvious
that
when
Paphos
News
featured
Cabarets,
the
response
from
readers
would be
extensive,
but the
degree
has been
overwhelming.
Our
Internet
Poll on
'should
the
Government
act to
close
Cabarets?'
produced
a 89%
'yes',
so the
issue
inevitably
is one
that
requires
further
investigation
and
exposure
allowing
all to
give
their
opinion,
views
and
comments,
be they objectional,
negative
or
positive.
Amongst
the
thousands
of
letters
and
e-mails
we have
received,
one
reader
quotes;
“the
girls
who
venture
over to
Cyprus
are well
aware of
what
they are
getting
into, if
they
don't
like it
- they
can get
out, or
certainly
within a
few
weeks.
It is a
chance
for them
to earn
several
thousand
pounds
and go
back to
their
respective
states
and
complete
their
education,
put
money
down on
a flat,
buy a
car or
help
their
family
or start
a
business.
It gives
them a
chance.
The only
issue I
have
with the
system
here is
that the
security
aspect
for the
girls'
welfare
on a
nightly
basis is
not
sufficient
by any
means.
No ID is
taken
from the
"punter",
not many
of the
clubs
have CCTV,
the club
does not
know
where
they are
being
taken
and many
of the
girls
have
their
mobiles
taken
off them
as they
leave
the
club. It
is only
a matter
of time
before
one of
them is
murdered."
Does
this
conclude
that
Cabaret
girls
are
making
an
honest
living
or not?
Or are
they
subject
to
employment
abuse,
victimised
by a
society
who
appeals
to the
concept
of
Cabarets,
seemingly
legalised
prostitution.
During a
discussion
with a
Cypriot
male, I
was
informed
that
rape
would be
on the
increase
if
Cabarets
were
abolished.
Interesting
concept
which
could
lead us
to
another
opinion
of the
Cypriot
society
who
cares
little
about
the
abuse of
a female
and her
rights.
In other
countries
Cabarets
are
places
of
extravagance
with
stage
entertainment,
in
Cyprus
Cabarets
are
legalised
to some
degree,
for the
operates
of
female
body
services,
which is
permitted
by the
female
at an
agreed
fee,
thus
equating
to
professional
services
exchanged,
in one
word
term
'employment'.
It would
appear
most
Cabaret
girls
have the
option
to work
within
the
clubs,
or
profession,
or not.
That
choice
remains
their
decision,
the
consequences
of
leaving
their
current
status
to
develop
another
career
or opt
for
alternative
income,
is what
is under
dispute.
"I know
if I
leave my
current
job as a
Cabaret
woman I
will
have the
bosses
pester
me and
make my
life
hell"
said
Lara who
has
worked
in the
Cabaret
environment
now for
5
years.”
There is
a strict
policy,
as girls
we have
little
rights,
but I
was made
aware
what was
expected
of me
unlike
those
who come
from
other
countries,
and as
my
clients
pay me
direct,
and the
Cabaret
owners
get
their
commission
direct,
I am
paid
immediately
after
the
service
is
rendered;"
- selective
terminology!
She
proceeded
to say
that the
girls
have
regular
STD
checks
as part
of their
contract
and
condoms
are
provided,
no doubt
to
protect
the
owners
who wish
to
market a
viable
healthy
product.
It would
appear
that
there
are
selective
girls
who have
their
regular
clientele
through
the
Cabarets
and are
chosen
firstly
for
themselves
and
secondly
for the
service
which
they
provide.
I am
sure
there is
a
reverse
scenario
to that!
Client
confidentiality
is
paramount
and if
the
owners
discover
their
employees
are
speaking
about
their
clients,
immediate
dismissal
is the
consequence.
Payment
by
comparison
is high
and in
cash and
active
marketing
campaigns
are
International
to
promote
girls to
come to
Cyprus
as
'dancing
Cabaret
girls'.
This is
clever
marketing,
it
attracts
the
majority
of girls
who are
deceived
about
the
concept
of
Cabarets
and upon
arrival
have no
option
but to
stay,
enticed
by the
high
cash
earnings
and
bound by
a
one-way
ticket.
Not
worthy
of a
thought
are
proud
parents
claiming
‘my
daughter
is on
stage in
Cabaret
in
Cyprus,
we are
saving
to see
her
perform!'
An
interesting
theory
is the
development
of
marketing
strategies,
rapidly
increasing
in
Cyprus
in line
with
International
themes.
'BOGOF'
(buy one
get one
free)
may well
be on
future
marketing
proposals
to
Cabaret
owners
who seek
to
attract
more
business.
It has
been
highly
successful
within
consumer
marketing
in the
UK, why
not
Cyprus?
There
are very
few
constraints
on what
one can
say to
attract
more
sales
through
advertising
- Cyprus
Advertising
Standards
Authority
awaits a
painful
birth!
A female
friend
commented,
"if
these
girls
were
really
adverse
to
working
conditions,
why
stay?"
The
reality
is these
girls
are
often
from
countries
where
they are
illegal
to work
in
Cyprus
and
corporately
controlled
employment
of this
type is
the only
source
to
acquire
an
income.
Cabaret
owners
organise
Visas,
or at
least
they
promise
to, but
'pending
application'
has its
merits
of
comfort
when
confronted
by
formalities.
Nicos
Nicolaou,
32 years
who
returned
to his
homeland
Paphos
from
Britain
12 years
ago
says,
"before
I was
married,
a night
out with
the lads
and then
Cabaret
was a
regular
event.
Cabaret
girls
make a
man feel
good
about
themselves,
the way
they
approach
you when
you
arrive
in the
club,
stroke
your leg
and
smile
makes a
man feel
good,
whatever
their
size or
shape.
In
Cyprus
Cabarets
are part
of the
culture
for men,
it's a
form of
entertainment
and
Cabaret
culture
is a way
of life
here, it
is a
professional
business
even if
it is
not
spoken
about
within
the
family.
During
the
tourist
season
when
mainly
British
women
seem to
loose
their
self-respect
and can
be
picked
up at
bars
easily
for a
night's
fun and
sex for
free, it
is
preferred,
because
they are
often
completely
drunk,
whereas
Cabaret
women
are
sober
and
aware of
their
actions.
I am
sure
Cabaret
women
have to
take a
sedative
from
time to
time,
because
some of
the men
they
have to
perform
with are
revolting.
I
remember
working
in bars
when I
first
arrived
back in
Paphos
and like
most of
the hot
blooded
young
Cypriot
men, I
could
not wait
for free
sex from
the
tourist
girls,
soon we
upgraded
again to
Cabarets,
it might
be free
but
tourist
girls
get out
of their
mind
with
alcohol
and then
start
crying
and want
you to
marry
them. I
think
they
think
they are
Shirley
Valentines
and have
discovered
romance
with a
Greek
God,
pathetic
really."
When a
Government
official
was
asked to
comment
on
should
Cabarets
be
closed,
the
answer
was;
"why? It
is a
business,
the
owners
pay rent
for
their
premises,
pay
operating
fees and
licences
and make
social
insurance
contributions;
they
offer a
consumer
service
and
generally
operate
a
business
for
paying
clientele.
The
operating
licences
are
based
upon
business
services
with
appropriate
alcohol
sales’
licences.
If the
strategy
for
application
was
changed
to a
specific
requirement
under
the
category
of 'sale
of sex',
this
would
generate
new laws
of
operation."
When a
Police
spokesman
was
asked to
comment,
his
response
was, “we
do have
a few
calls
reported,
often
related
to
drunken
men who
will not
leave
the
Cabarets
and make
unreasonable
demands,
but it
is no
different
to bars.
We have
a
reasonable
working
relationship
with the
owners
and if
the
girls
ever
report a
case of
abuse or
have a
problem
with
immigration,
we are
always
available
to
discuss
the
issues
with the
support
of
Social
Welfare.
Drug
abuse
individuals
do not
frequent
Cabarets
that
often;
it would
be an
obvious
place
for a
Police
raid,
which is
why the
owners
do not
traffic
drugs
either.
The
public
at large
may
assume
differently,
but
these
are
facts."
An
expert
on the
trade
said
Cyprus
is a
transit
point
for
prostitution
and the
authorities
do not
have the
will to
combat
the
problem.
The
Human
Rights
Committee
Chairman
denied
the
claim
saying
only
1200
'visas'
are
given
out
every
year for
artistes
to work
in the
120
Cabaret
clubs.
According
to other
research
this is
wrong
with the
average
number
of visas
given
out by
the
authorities
exceeding
1200
every 6
months!
Acknowledging
that
many
visas
are in
fact
only
valid
for this
period,
the
girls
are
either
replaced
or
renewed
so to
speak.
Also
many
girls
are
enticed
by so
called
theatrical
agents
who pay
for a
one way
flight
to
Cyprus
and once
here
they
have
little
choice
but to
work for
their
daily
livelihood
or for
their
return
flight.
It seems
that
Cabarets
are an
integrated
part of
the
Cypriot
culture
and
unless
one
wants to
attempt
changing
the
whole
philosophy
of their
mind
provoking
concepts
of
living,
Cabarets
will
remain
open for
business
as
usual.
I
conclude
with a
quote
from the
Daily
Mail 5th
November,
'WI says
Brothels
should
be
legalised'
with
members
of the
respectable
Institute
saying
councils
should
try and
protect
prostitutes
by
proving
designated
safe
working
areas. A
resolution
was
passed
by the
6,000-strong
Hampshire
County
Federation
of WI's.
A member
stated,
"we all
know it
goes on
and it’s
the best
way we
can
protect
the
women
who work
on the
streets
in big
cities.
We are
not
trying
to help
the men
who need
prostitutes;
we are
helping
the
women
who end
up as
prostitutes."
Interesting
theory
when you
consider
Cyprus
could be
the
leaders
for the
way
forward
in
Britain,
often
the
reverse.
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