The time has come for Malta to consider the regulation of brothels, Labour Deputy Leader for Party Affairs Toni Abela said today.

Speaking on One Radio, Dr Abela referred to the arraignment of nine women yesterday for allegedly loitering for the purposes of prostitution.

This, he said, was what was known as ‘the oldest profession’ and it would never be eliminated, whatever the state did.

“One should consider, in this day and age, whether this way of life should be regulated,” Dr Abela said.

That  would certainly be better than the barbaric manner how these women were treated when they were taken to court by the authorities while the pimps exploited them, blackmailed them and took their money.

One could not be puritan, he said, and regulation would also be beneficial from the point of view of health.