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🇧🇪 Belgium /Crime & Justice

Prison unions meet with government: “We finally want solutions”

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Prison union representatives are meeting officials over persistent problems in Belgium’s detention system and a proposed strike starting September 6 at 10 p.m.
  • Unions said the number of prisoners sleeping on floors has risen by 71 in two weeks and cited problems with security equipment, alarms and prison infrastructure.
  • They are calling for safer working conditions, including additional staff for Antwerp’s new De Kade prison.

Belgian prison union representatives have gathered at the Justice Ministry to seek solutions to what they describe as continuing problems in the country’s prisons. The talks involve Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden and Mathilde Steenbergen, director of the prison system.

The meeting also covers a strike request filed on August 27. The unions are seeking industrial action from 10 p.m. on September 6, and ACOD representative De Kaey said it would not last only one day.

We finally want solutions

— Belgian prison unionsThe phrase summarizes the unions’ stated purpose for meeting government and prison administration officials.

The unions point to worsening overcrowding. They said prisons now have 71 more people sleeping on floors than they did two weeks earlier. They also cited failures involving security equipment and alarms, as well as broader problems with prison buildings and infrastructure.

Their demands include safer working conditions for prison staff. The unions highlighted the staffing issue during the opening of Antwerp’s new De Kade prison, which still needs additional employees.

And not for one day

— De Kaey, ACODDe Kaey said the proposed strike would not be limited to a single day.
About this summary

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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