Belgian unions take strike action

Belgium’s two largest trade union confederations, the CSC and the FGTB, organised a day of action on 29 March to protest over the employers’ refusal to move beyond a 0.4% pay offer.

Pay in the private sector in Belgium is set at national level every two years, and although it automatically goes up in line with inflation, any increase above that is linked to developments in Belgium’s competitiveness.

An expert group has said that a 0.4% is all that can be afforded, and the employers have refused to offer more.

The unions are calling for a bigger overall increase and a substantial rise for the lowest paid.