Hasselt Prison has stopped accepting new prisoners due to a staff-led action.
The action started on Saturday morning as workers protested against the facility's overcrowding, a complaint they have raised with both union representatives and management.
"Since 06:30, the prison has remained closed to new inmates. We currently house 643 detainees with only 420 spaces available. Staff are tired of working under these conditions," stated Kristof Muyters from ACOD union, the Dutch-speaking section of the CGSP.
While the staff action has been communicated with management and authorities, the prison continues to operate as normal.
"Overcrowding is a source of frustration for both detainees and staff. Aggression towards workers sometimes results from this situation. Everyone here is fed up, despite this issue being brought up multiple times. Clearly, no one is taking it into account," Muyters added.
