Leading trade unions in Belgium have called for two days of protests on Friday and Monday, the Belgian news agency Belga reported on Thursday. The protests, organised against the government's budget policy, are being jointly staged by the Christian trade union CSC and the socialist FGTB.
Disruptions to air and rail travel, as well as public services, are expected due to the strikes. At Brussels airport, approximately 140 flights could be cancelled on Friday, with the ground handling company announcing its participation in the strike. The country's second-largest airport, in Charleroi, plans to operate all scheduled flights.
The national operator, SNCB, has announced that from Sunday evening to Monday, services will operate on a reduced timetable. It is expected that many railway employees will join the strike. Other services expected to be affected include public transport, education, and waste collection.
The protest in Brussels on Friday is expected to attract thousands of participants. A similar protest in May drew between 40,000 and 75,000 people, according to police estimates or trade union figures.
Belgium has a high public debt and a chronic budget deficit. The centre-right government, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever, has set a target to save €10 billion by the end of his term in 2029. De Wever is expected to address the Belgian parliament on Tuesday, with Belgium required to submit its budget draft to the European Commission by 15 October.
