BRUSSELS — The Socialist, Christian and Liberal trade union federations in Belgium jointly decided on Tuesday to stage joint protest actions against the federal government’s ‘generation pact’.

Union delegates met on Tuesday afternoon to draw up a co-ordinated plan of protest that will start on 2 December and continue through until 6 December.

Strikes will also be staged in several industrial sectors on 8 December as unions vent frustration against the government’s pension reform plans.

The generation pact aims to boost employment and increase the retention of older workers while re-financing the social security system.

Union federations are angered by plans to restrict the number of workers taking early retirement by sharpening pre-conditions or lifting the early pension minimum age. Two national strikes have been held in recent weeks.

However, the government has said the reforms must be pushed through to ensure future prosperity. Employers have urged the government not to back down.

[Copyright Expatica News 2005]

Subject: Belgian news