General strike over introduction of lower pensions and increase in retirement age

According to the Belgian trade unions that organised the nationwide strike, Monday's action is against the pension reform measures proposed by the federal government. They say that the plans to introduce lower pensions and raise the retirement age would create unfavourable conditions for workers, which would also lead to a deterioration in working conditions.

According to The Brussels Times news portal, no passenger flights were leaving Brussels' Zaventem airport on Monday and Charleroi airport was also closed. Brussels Airlines was only able to land a few incoming flights, with most of its planned 200 flights cancelled.

Public transport was also operating at a significantly reduced capacity, with only one metro line in Brussels and a limited number of tram and bus services. In Flanders, only half of the buses and trams were running, while in Wallonia, transport was completely stopped.

Only one bus and tram service was running.

International rail links were also disrupted, with half of the Eurocity services between Brussels and Amsterdam cancelled and other international services, such as the TGV to Strasbourg, completely blocked.

The strike's impact extended to many other areas of the economy. Workers at the Belgian beer giant AB InBev's plants in Leuven, Hoogarden and Jupille also stopped work. Unions representing the company's employees have complained of overwork and underfunding.

The Flemish employers' organisation Voka said the strike would cause "irreparable economic damage", with losses estimated at between €300 million and €500 million. The organisation's president, Hans Maertens, also warned of a worsening international image of the Belgian economy.

The strike has also affected Belgian prisons, where minimum service levels have been cut in several institutions. The police and the Red Cross had to be called in to help maintain services.

In Brussels and Antwerp, hundreds of cultural sector workers and artists took to the streets in protest against planned social security reforms and the restructuring of artist status.

Several large companies, such as the ArcelorMittal steelworks and Volvo plants, have also been on strike. Maritime traffic in Belgium has also almost come to a standstill.

The walkout lasted until 22:00 on Monday.