A strike launched by Belgian prison staff yesterday evening at the call of several unions will continue until the evening of September 11.
As part of the strike, only essential services for inmates, such as security, meal distribution and healthcare, will continue in all prisons across the country.
If there is not enough staff to provide the minimum services, some prison employees may be assigned to duty compulsorily.
Unions’ demands
The unions are calling for overcrowding in prisons to be reduced and staff shortages to be addressed. Their demands also include ensuring that employees can take their accumulated leave days within a short period, improving inadequate and outdated infrastructure, and strengthening security measures.