Body rub centres may close earlier

The city's executive committee is recommending shorter hours for Edmonton's adult massage parlours.

If approved next week by a majority of councillors, body rub centres could only operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., instead of staying open 24 hours a day.

The executive committee recommended the shorter hours back in April but decided to give massage parlour owners a chance to address the issue.

However, none of them showed up to Wednesday's meeting.

This is the second time hours have changed in the past year.

In January, any massage parlour that renewed or received a new license as a body rub centre could stay open 24 hours a day.

Councillors approved the change because they thought sex trade workers would be safer indoors than out on the streets.

The majority of workers who responded to a city survey said they didn't want the longer hours and worried about their safety, especially when working overnight.