Non-profit sector threatens ‘massive’ protests if governments refuse additional funding
If the different Belgian governments do not provide additional funding for the non-profit sector, there is a threat of “massive” protests this autumn. Strikes are also not out of the question, trade unions warned on Tuesday.
The non-profit sector is suffering from staff shortages and high workloads, the trade unions argue. They therefore want additional funds to be allocated to the sector. These additional budgets should make the sector more attractive, improve working conditions and increase pay, particularly for weekend and night work.
Non-profit staff have already taken to the streets twice this year. At the end of May, 30,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Brussels to call for more resources for healthcare.
However, the trade unions have not yet received any signals from the different governments about additional budgets. “There will be consultations with the federal minister of health Frank Vandenbroucke next week,” said Olivier Remy, general coordinator of the ACV Puls non-profit union. “At the Flemish level, consultations with welfare minister Caroline Gennez have been cancelled."
Consultations and additional funds
The unions are specifically asking for negotiations on investments in healthcare to start in September and for the necessary resources for 2026 to be provided for in the drafting of the budgets. If the governments do not respond positively, “further actions will be planned without hesitation in the autumn,” according to the unions ACV and ABVV in a press release.
“We will not continue to ask nicely,” said Olivier Remy. If there is no consultation planned and no additional funds are made available, “massive protests will follow”. Strikes are also not out of the question, the trade unions warn.
Protest action of the non-profit sector in Brussels, 22 May 2025 © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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