A national strike in Belgium on Monday, March 31, protesting the government’s proposed pension reform has caused widespread disruptions, including a halt to all flights.
Protesters, opposing the planned pension changes, also blocked access to several stores in Brussels’ shopping district, including Foot Locker, Kiko Milano, Zara, Primark, and Pull & Bear.
The national strike has not only suspended air travel but also caused significant disruptions to public transportation. The pension reform, which encourages working beyond retirement age with 35 years of service, imposes penalties on those who retire early without meeting this requirement. The new system also reduces benefits for low-income workers compared to the previous one, which provided a lump sum based on employment length.
Earlier in February, thousands of Belgians took to the streets to voice their opposition to the pension overhaul.
The current government, led by N-VA’s Bart De Wever, took office on February 3, nearly eight months after the country’s parliamentary elections.
