Staff requisitions were required in Flanders prisons on Friday due to an indefinite strike across Belgian prisons, ongoing since 1 April.
Five staff replacements (and an additional four for the night shift) were needed to ensure that minimum staff numbers were fulfilled. Requisitions were implemented for the first time in history last week due to the same indefinite strike.
Prison staff in the Brussels-Capital Region and Flanders are taking turns to strike to extend the action for as long as possible while minimising the financial impact on trade union members.
Walloon prisons are not participating in the actions, so no requisitions occurred in the region's facilities.
The ongoing action is in protest of chronic overcrowding and staff shortages in Belgian facilities. On Friday, 86 inmates were sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and 84 of these were situated in Flanders.
There are currently 234 detainees on extended leave as a way to manage overcrowding.
