The general strike of public sector workers began in the southern French-speaking region of Belgium - Wallonia and in Brussels.

The majority of government employees - from the clerks of the state institutions to the ministry staff participate in a strike. Work of the most part of public services, transport and the railroads is almost stopped. A traffic jam with 280 km total length was formed on the key highways of Wallonia, leading to Brussels, Namur, Liege and other major cities in the morning rush hour, TASS reported quoting RTBF.

However, the situation on the roads is a little smoothed by the fact that many people did not go to work at all on Tuesday morning.

In Brussels, the workers intend to carry out demonstration that may reach about 10 thousand participants from all country, but the matter is whether they will be able to reach the city center.

The administration of the airports warned about possible interruptions in work of air harbors of the country.

Schools and hospitals generally remain open. However, children have a legal excuse for absence in the classrooms if their school has no own bus as the public transportation is practically stopped.

The main purpose of the strike is to achieve the revision of the government's plans for the restructuring and optimization of state services, to reduce costs, which can lead to dismissals. In addition, the labor unions demand refusal of social reforms, which provides increase in the length of the working week from 38 to 40 hours, increase of a retirement age, as well as the reform of the unemployment benefits system, which should encourage job search more actively.

The current protest is not the first this month in the southern Belgium. Since the end of April the strike of prison officials and railroads officials continues.