TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S constitutional court said on Saturday it would scrap an 'unfair' law that means prostitutes can be punished but allows clients to go free.

'The law violates the equality principle in the constitution and shall be invalidated within two years,' the court said in a statement.

'Punishing only the profit-earner in the sex trade but not the payer constitutes unfair treatment,' it added.

Under the existing laws, prostitutes face detention of three days or a fine of up to NT$30,000 (US$1,313) if they are caught providing sexual services. Their clients go unpunished.

The ruling comes as Taiwan debates whether to decriminalise prostitution or establish special sex zones similar to those in Amsterdam's famed red-light district.

Taiwan's sex industry is estimated to generate annual revenue of up to NT$60 billion. -- AFP