20,000 protest in Brussels against budget cuts

An estimated 20,000 people from the non-profit sector – welfare, health care and culture – gathered in Brussels to protest against cuts in funding that have left the sector, particularly in areas such as home care for the elderly, struggling to make ends meet.

“Our caregivers are the victims of the spending cuts because they are the ones who have to fill the gaps created by the government,” said Meyrem Almaci of opposition party Groen, who took part in the demonstration. “It’s not right that caregivers are under such pressure in a wealthy region like Flanders.”

After the march, a delegation of representatives met with Flemish minister-president Geert Bourgeois, welfare minister Jo Vandeurzen and economy minister Bart Tommelein. The government promised to prepare an agenda for negotiations for a new social accord before the holiday recess.

The old accord expired at the end of 2015, but so far there have been no talks aimed at a new one.

However, when it came to extra budget provisions, the government declined to make any promises. According to Vandeurzen, the government has already made major investments in areas such as child care, care for the elderly and aid for people with a disability.

Measures taken in the 2015-2017 period have also created 4,500 new jobs in the sector, Vandeurzen said.

Across the region, hospitals operated a Sunday service, with surgeries and other major procedures postponed. In some facilities, one in 10 workers was absent to attend the protest, and extra staff had to be called in.

The march passed off without incident, other than the expected traffic problems in the city centre. Motorists had been warned in advance to leave the car at home and come to work by public transport.

Photo: Eric Lalmand/BELGA