BANGKOK, Feb. 1 -- As Thailand gears up for the February 8 election, political parties are stepping into the spotlight to promise better rights and protections for sex workers.

The Service Workers in Group (Swing) Foundation hosted a forum titled 'Sex (Worker) and the City' at Cowboy 2 bar in Soi Cowboy, drawing representatives from Pheu Thai, People's, Movement, Thai Sang Thai, and Democrat parties, Thai media reported.

"No matter how Thailand tries to deny the existence of this profession, the country needs to admit that many families' breadwinners are doing this job," Pheu Thai list candidate Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn was quoted by news outletThe Thaiger as saying today.

She called for sex workers to be protected under the Entertain...