Widespread strikes in Belgium over austerity measures

Belgium is expected to come to a standstill on Monday as the country holds its third strike in two weeks amid increasing public anger about fresh austerity measures proposed by the centre-right government of Charles Michel.

The strike will see much of the country’s public infrastructure shut down, including schools, transport systems and government offices.

It will also affect other industries – the country's main francophone newspapers, including Le Soir and L'Echo, will not be publishing print editions over fears the action will hit printing and distribution networks.

This is the third consecutive Monday of industrial action in Belgium, part of a planned series of protests against austerity measures.

While the previous strikes have been limited to certain regions, today’s strike will be nationwide.

Negotiations

Following almost five months of negotiations, Belgium’s new government took office in mid-October, under the leadership of Michel.

The government, a centre-right coalition between Michel's French-speaking liberal party and three Flemish parties, has proposed a number of fresh austerity measures as the country struggles to meet debt and deficit targets set by the European Commission.

Among the measures being proposed is an increase in the retirement age from 65 to 67, and a proposal to abandon a planned inflation-linked wage rise for 2015.

All flights in and out of Brussels airport have been cancelled between 10pm yesterday and 10pm today, while there will be no trains, trams, or buses operating. Eurostar services have been affected, with trains to London commencing and ending in Lille, just over the French border.

Thousands of hospital operations have been cancelled, with reports of entrances to hospitals being blocked by protesters last week. A blockade of motorways is also expected.

‘Unacceptable’

Business organisations have described the planned blocking of motorways and roads as “unacceptable” and not compatible with the rule of law. The head of main trade union the CSC said a further general strike could not be ruled out.

Though many of those working in the EU institutions left for Strasbourg yesterday for the December plenary session of the European Parliament, foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels today to discuss developments in Syria.

Along with France and Italy, Belgium has been told by the European Commission that it faces a further review of its 2015 budget in March.