Belgian unions plan joint Oct 9 protest, warn of red lines on labor policy

Belgium's socialist (FGTB) and Christian (CSC) unions will hold a joint protest in Brussels on October 9, framed as a 'clear first warning' to the federal government. They have set three red lines—no unilateral interference with wage indexing, no VAT increase, and no annualization of working hours—and threaten escalation if crossed. The development signals rising labor tension ahead of budget negotiations, but the government's response remains uncertain.