Unions call general strike in Belgium on 13 February

Three Belgian trade unions have called a general strike for Wednesday 13 February in protest at "meagre" wage increases capped at 0.8% this year.

The CSC, FGTB and CGSLB say negotiations with government are "deadlocked" and have invited members across all industries to take part in the day of action.

The unions have challenged the government's inflation calculations and are calling for a 1.5% pay increase to be the norm, adding that 0.8% "did not correspond to workers' aspirations".

"The unions are sounding the alarm by organising a day of action on the ground," the three unions said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Shortly before heading to the World Economic Forum in Davos, prime minister Charles Michel and employment minister Kris Peeters called for negotiations to continue.

Details of what effect the strike will have on schools, public services and transport will not be known until a few days beforehand.