Three-day nationwide strike in Belgium over government reform plan
Belgium is bracing for three days of nationwide strikes beginning today, as unions protest the fiscal reform package proposed by Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s government — measures they denounce as the “dismantling” of the country’s social welfare system.
Rail services have already been heavily disrupted. The national rail operator SNCB reduced its schedules on Sunday, and today only one in two — or even one in three — trains is expected to run, depending on the line. Widespread paralysis of other public transport networks is also anticipated. Eurostar services linking Brussels and Paris are expected to face significant delays and cancellations.
On Tuesday, the walkouts will expand further, affecting schools, nurseries, postal services, waste collection, and large parts of the healthcare sector, while disruptions to public transport will continue.
The strike movement will reach its peak on Wednesday, when numerous private-sector unions are set to join the mobilization.
Belgium’s two largest airports — Brussels Airport and Charleroi — are expected to see no departures on Wednesday, airport operators said. Arrivals will also be affected, due to strikes by ground handling and security staff.
The center-right governing coalition has announced austerity measures aimed at saving €10 billion by 2030. Belgium, one of the most heavily indebted countries in the European Union, is under pressure to reduce its deficit in line with EU debt and spending rules. At the same time, it faces mounting obligations to sharply increase military expenditure under NATO requirements.
The government now faces growing pushback from unions and the public. In October, roughly 100,000 people marched in Brussels to protest the planned reforms.
