WORKERS in Belgium walked out for 24 hours in a strike on Monday, hitting public services and halting virtually all transport.

The strike, organised by the socialist General Labour Federation of Belgium (FGTB-ABVV) and the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions, was in protest over massive budget cuts proposed by the country’s coalition government.

The proposed €1 billion (£800 million) in cuts would hit pensions, unemployment benefits and public services.

In Flanders, less than half of buses and trams ran. The national railway service operated a minimal service, as required by Belgian law.

There were widespread school closures and postal and rubbish collection services were all halted. There was also disruption to the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge.

Belgium’s second largest airport, Charleroi, cancelled all flights.

Brussels Airlines cancelled all departing flights and almost all arrivals.

The new coalition came to power promising to improve living standards but has instead boosted spending on the military.

Stefano Scibetta, senior delegate for the FGTB-ABVV, said “people are fed up. Nobody wants to work until 67 to earn less money.”

In a statement, the Workers Party of Belgium said that the coalition was “divided and hesitant” and “the more we support the strike, the better our chances of blocking their plans for social destruction.”