BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The ongoing strike was caused by dissatisfaction of penal institutions workers with the over-crowding of the country's jails, as well as with the lack of staff in prisons. The government and protesters have already held more than 10 rounds of negotiations to solve the crisis.
According to the RTBF broadcaster, the government proposed creating three new detention facilities and recruiting 386 additional prison guards to ease the working conditions in the penitentiary system.
Despite the fact that the government succeeded at reaching an agreement with the majority of trade unions participating in the strike, the overwhelming majority of jail workers refused to agree with government proposals, the broadcaster reported.
The industrial action against the existing working conditions forced the Belgian authorities to use road police officers, crime investigators and soldiers to provide safety at Belgian prisons.
