France has introduced new prostitution laws, making soliciting sex legal, but activities around it such as brothels and pimping have been made illegal.

Key points: Supporters say legislation will make it easier to crackdown on sex trafficking

Supporters say legislation will make it easier to crackdown on sex trafficking Sex workers say it will force them into underground operations

Sex workers say it will force them into underground operations Fears laws will allow customers to impose their choices, including unprotected sex

Supporters said the legislation would make it easier to crackdown on sex trafficking, but prostitutes said it would leave them in limbo.

The changes have been met by rallies, with some people calling for the abolition of prostitution all together, and others demanding the laws be scaled back.

People who want to pay for sex could now cop a 1,500 Euro fine, which increases if they are found re-offending.

Those prosecuted would also have to attend education classes, about the harms of the sex trade.

Why are the laws changing?

The French Government estimates 90 per cent of the country's 20,000 to 40,000 sex workers are victims of Nigerian, Chinese and Romanian sex trafficking networks.

MP Guy Geoffroy, member of the conservative party Les Republicans, said from now on the onus would be on the clients.

"We have decided to reinforce as much as we can the fight against the networks trafficking human beings and against procurement," he said.

"And we have also decided to put prostitution customers in front of their responsibilities, because without clients there is no prostitution, without clients there is no human trafficking."

Some prostitution supporter groups said the new legislation would provide sex workers with greater powers, and help to encourage the reporting of crimes against them.

Claire Quidet, a sex worker supporter, said prostitutes will benefit from the overhaul.

"Prostitutes will no longer be seen as criminals," Ms Quidet said.

"When they are abused, they can file a complaint in a police station which they did not dare do before.

"The power relationship with their clients will be completely different as they will be in a position of strength such as 'I am not guilty, but you, what you're doing is against the law'."

New laws 'force workers underground'

Elisabeth Lansey, from Friends of the Bus for Women, said she and others fear sex workers will be forced into underground operations.

"If customers are penalised, they will be scared, the girls will have to hide in order to practice their trade, which is legal, and as the one who might get into legal trouble, the customer will be able to even more impose his choices, including unprotected sex."

One sex worker, Orlena, said she and her fellow sex workers feared for their future.

"Tomorrow we will be in total insecurity," she said.

"We won't be able to declare anymore what we earn, we won't be able to pay our social taxes nor our bills.

"That's the reason why we are angry: in a way the customer will be frustrated not to be able to come to us and we will be frustrated of not being able to work and send money to the state."

Rallies against the changes are continuing and growing.

As part of the new measures, the French Government will also set up a program to help prostitutes leave the industry.

The new laws have been in the making since 2013.