16 / 02 / 2021
3 Minute Read

Thai-Massage/TCM in Switzerland : what’s really going on behind the curtains?

Numerous in all the big Swiss cities for ten years, TCM-Massage Practice are now developing all over the country. Originally created by Thais, they are now opened by Chinese. What nobody talks about is that at least the 3/4 of them would be places of prostitution, where sexual massage is practiced.

Some of these salons belong to networks that can bring together up to 20 establishments. The vast majority of these establishments are registered in the commercial register and masseuses are often legally employed there (this is not always the case).

The managers are often former prostitutes who have obtained papers - sometimes by marrying a Swiss. They recruit their masseuses by classified ads posted on the internet or via the Chinese community. They often accommodate their employees who have just arrived from China, further adding to the financial dependence of these improvised masseuses ...

TCM: easy activity to start

Known as TCM (Traditional Chinese Massage/Medicine), these salons have no problem settling in the more upscale neighborhoods. Anyone can open a massage parlor and offer any type of massage there, as long as the protected term "medical masseur" is not used. The owners of the premises are blinded by these three capital letters (TCM) and often take for granted the diplomas of masseuses obtained in Thailand or in China (of which it is impossible to verify the authenticity).

When I apply for a new apartment / location for TVR, I am 100% transparent with the owner and 9 times out of 10 I get a negative response. The TCM proceed differently… they hide behind this “serious” and “reassuring” name and this trick allows them to proliferate like mushrooms. But everyone knows that in addition to the massages listed in the shop-window, other massages are possible ... massages for men ... massages that take care of their needs, in a different way ...

The “Happy-Ending”

Pink curtain, lotus flower and an "Open" flashing in neon letters in the window - a sheet taped to the door announces the program: Chinese, Thai, Tantric, relaxing, naturist massages; and also individual or couple massages. You often have to ring the doorbell to get pricing information.

Manual finishing (Happy-end) is always the subject of an extension (extra), negotiated between the masseuse and the client, and is payable in cash.

Not seen not caught ! Half an hour later everyone goes back to their normal activities, as if nothing had happened. The proliferation of Chinese massage parlors in Switzerland is the best kept secret!

As it cannot be seen, this new hyper-expanding urban pimping thrives with the greatest impunity. And no one says anything. Zero revolt. No one moans, no one talks. But those (like TVR and many of my colleagues) who want to do things transparently are  throwing up roadblocks in our way ...

Police: No Trespassing!

But why don't the police just walk into these brothels?

Apparently, they are not authorized to enter a salon without a warrant and do not have the right to infiltrate. "Suspecting prostitution activities or reading client testimonies on the internet does not trigger a procedure. Unless the police carries out a routine check and catches you on the spot, they must first identify those responsible. The investigation usually starts with a report or a denunciation ... But as these establishments are very quiet and very discreet, this does not alarm anyone, although they practice illegal services (indeed, you need a permit to be able to open a brothel in Switzerland and this apples in all Canton). So in fact it is very simple: no complaint, no police. No police = TCMs have a bright future ahead of them!

Actually, in these salons, there would be plenty to trigger administrative inquiries - and therefore cause closures of these establishment -, for basic questions of non-compliance with hygiene standards, lack of qualification of masseuses or of hidden work ...

Janet for TheVelvetRooms

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