Prison staff in Belgium go on 24-hour-long strike

By Omer Tugrul Cam

BRUSSELS (AA) - Prison staff in Belgium began a one-day strike with demands such as improvement in their wages and working conditions.

It was announced that the police officers were temporarily assigned to the duty of prison guards.

Due to the strike, disruptions in the functioning of prisons are expected, while social activities, training, workshops, and visits have been canceled.

The unions to which the employees are affiliated demand reorganization of salary scales and full payment of the end-of-year bonuses.

Petra De Sutter, the deputy prime minister for Public Services in Belgium, said she acknowledges that wage increases have been made in the private sector in the last 15 years, but there has been no significant rise in the public sector.