Belgian prison guards begin five-day strike over overcrowding and staff shortages

Beginning Sunday night, prison guards across Belgium launched a five-day strike to demand relief from persistent overcrowding and a lack of personnel in detention facilities. The unions, the Justice Ministry represented by Annelies Verlinden, and prison management met last Tuesday but left without a settlement. In many prisons, inmates are forced to sleep on the floor due to the crowding.

Authorities have warned they could order guards back to duty if volunteer numbers fall short of the minimum required staff. The ACOD union, which represents the guards, opposes any compulsory work assignment during the strike, calling it a silencing of workers. The protest is set to conclude on Friday unless a resolution is reached beforehand.