BELGIUM ground to a halt on Monday as workers began a three-day general strike against government austerity plans targeting pensions, welfare benefits and employment rights.

It was the 13th national strike since Prime Minister Bart de Wever’s five-party right-wing coalition took office in February.

Transport was brought to a standstill by the industrial action, which was joined today by teachers, healthcare staff and postal workers. A walkout across multiple sectors is planned for tomorrow.

The government has caved in to demands from the unelected European Commission to slash Belgium’s budget deficit by making huge cuts to pensions, unemployment benefits and employment rights.

Unions argue that the changes would reduce workers’ takehome pay. The labour movement also rejects proposals to restrict the right to protest and new rules forcing unions to disclose their strike funds.

Unions are demanding a government review of the billions of euros spent on corporate subsidies, the introduction of a digital tax on tech giants and the scrapping of the proposed “bonus-malus” pension system, a penalty-reward scheme that would cut pensions for many workers, mainly women.

Confederation of Christian Trade Unions spokesman Jochen Mettlen said: “People are deeply disappointed and had expected something different” from the new government.

Ministers have largely ignored the unions’ demands.