The union quit the so-called Group of Ten – which includes five representatives from both unions and the employment sector – in discussion about the reorganisation of working hours, which would leave more scope for overtime and flexible hours. The union is calling for more structure, to prevent employers using overtime to make up for laying-off other workers. ABVV also opposes government plans to freeze pay and to review the annual indexation of wages – something employers have long called for.

The demonstration next Thursday is expected to cause severe disruption to traffic and services in the capital. The ABVV will be joined by the Christian union ACV, which stressed it would remain inside the Group of Ten to carry on talks.

In related news, about 8,000 federal civil servants took to the streets of Brussels last week in protest at reform proposals from civil service minister Hendrik Bogaert, including scrapping the principle of payment according to years of service. Bogaert plans to introduce instead a more performance-based pay, based on evaluation by superiors.

Meanwhile, a survey carried out by HR consultants SD Worx revealed that Belgian civil servants are happier in their work than their counterparts in the private sector. They scored higher in how useful and varied they saw their work and also feel they have more autonomy. But they see fewer opportunities for career advancement than those in the private sector.