PTB’s Women’s Movement Joins March 8 Strike
- Brussels, March 8, 2025 - As Belgium commemorates International Women's Day, prominent figures in the women's rights movement are voicing concerns over persistent structural inequalities and the potential...
- Maartje De Vries, president of Zelle, emphasizes the ongoing challenges: "« en Belgique, nous sommes encore et toujours confrontées à des inégalités structurelles »" (In Belgium, we are...
- Sofie Merckx, head of the PTB group in the Chamber, highlights the potential adverse effects of government measures, notably those related to pensions and labor flexibility.
belgian Women’s Rights Advocates Rally Against Inequality
Table of Contents
- belgian Women’s Rights Advocates Rally Against Inequality
- Belgian Women’s Rights: Key Questions Answered
- What are the main structural inequalities faced by women in Belgium?
- What is the “malus pension” and why are women’s rights advocates concerned?
- How does “labor flexibility” impact women’s rights in Belgium?
- Beyond pensions, what other issues are impacting women in Belgium?
- What actions are being taken by women’s rights advocates in Belgium?
- Who are the key figures in the Belgian women’s rights movement mentioned?
- How does the gender pay gap contribute to pension inequality in belgium?
- Summary of Key Issues and Concerns
Brussels, March 8, 2025 – As Belgium commemorates International Women’s Day, prominent figures in the women’s rights movement are voicing concerns over persistent structural inequalities and the potential impact of government policies on women’s well-being.
Structural Inequalities Persist in Belgium
Maartje De Vries, president of Zelle, emphasizes the ongoing challenges: “« en Belgique, nous sommes encore et toujours confrontées à des inégalités structurelles »” (In Belgium, we are still confronted with structural inequalities).
Concerns Over Government Policies
Sofie Merckx, head of the PTB group in the Chamber, highlights the potential adverse effects of government measures, notably those related to pensions and labor flexibility. “« Les mesures de l’Arizona, comme les attaques sur les salaires, le fait de travailler plus longtemps pour moins de pension ou encore l’hyperflexibilité ne feront qu’accroître ces inégalités,” » Merckx stated. She further expressed specific concern about the “malus pension,” which she believes will disproportionately affect women. “« Nous sommes particulièrement inquiets à propos du malus pension, qui va particulièrement toucher les femmes. Il est donc d’autant plus crucial de se mobiliser massivement aujourd’hui. »”
The “Malus Pension” and its Impact on women
Merckx argues that pension reforms proposed by the Arizona government will particularly harm women. “« Aujourd’hui déjà, une femme sur quatre touche une pension inférieure au seuil de pauvreté.Avec des mesures comme le malus pension, ce nombre ne fera qu’augmenter,” » she warns. She explains that women often contribute less to their pensions due to the gender pay gap, unequal distribution of care responsibilities, and a higher prevalence of part-time work. Additionally, women are often employed in physically demanding sectors like cleaning and healthcare, making it difficult to work full-time until the age of 67. The “malus pension” penalizes those who stop working before 67, potentially affecting half of all women facing early retirement.
flexibility vs. Rights
De Vries points out that the issues extend beyond pension reforms. “« Il ne s’agit pas que des mesures concernant les pensions,” » she says. “« Le gouvernement Arizona pousse aussi pour plus de flexibilité, ce qui rend la combinaison entre travail et vie de famille encore plus compliquée. »” She also notes that wage reductions, particularly the loss of bonuses for night and weekend work in the distribution sector, will further push women into precarious situations, making them more vulnerable to violence. furthermore, the modernization of abortion law has been stalled.
De Vries concludes with a call to action: “« Pour toutes ces raisons, soutenons la résistance du mouvement féministe contre ces politiques du gouvernement. Nous descendons aujourd’hui dans la rue contre ces mesures et pour une politique qui mette fin à l’inégalité. »” (For all these reasons, let’s support the resistance of the feminist movement against these government policies. We are taking to the streets today against these measures and for a policy that puts an end to inequality.)
Raoul Hedebouw, president of the PTB, Sofie Merckx, head of the group in the Chamber, and Maartje de Vries, president of Zelle, are scheduled to attend the Marche mondiale des Femmes (world Women’s march) in Brussels, starting at 3 PM.
Belgian Women’s Rights: Key Questions Answered
On International Women’s Day 2025, Belgian women’s rights advocates are rallying against persistent inequality. This Q&A explores the core issues driving their concerns.
What are the main structural inequalities faced by women in Belgium?
Maartje De Vries,president of Zelle,highlights these ongoing challenges. While the specific, quantifiable details of these structural inequalities aren’t explicitly detailed in this document, they are present.A 2024 article from the Federal Public Service Social Security in Belgium highlights the gender pension gap and the situation of assisting spouses of self-employed workers, most of whom are women, as examples of structural inequalities [2]. Some assisting spouses historically lacked access to minimum pension rights.
What is the “malus pension” and why are women’s rights advocates concerned?
The “malus pension” is a proposed pension reform that penalizes individuals who retire before the age of 67. Sofie Merckx, head of the PTB group in the Chamber, expresses strong concerns that this measure will disproportionately affect women because:
- Women often have lower pension contributions due to the gender pay gap.
- They frequently bear a larger share of care responsibilities, leading to career breaks or part-time work.
- Manny women work in physically demanding sectors (like cleaning and healthcare),making it difficult to sustain full-time employment until 67.
Merckx warns that the number of women wiht pensions below the poverty threshold (already one in four) will increase due to this measure. The pension reform in Belgium may provide opportunities to improve gender equality as stated by the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men [1].
How does “labor flexibility” impact women’s rights in Belgium?
De Vries argues that the goverment’s push for increased “labor flexibility” makes it more difficult for women to balance work and family life. this can translate to:
- Unpredictable work schedules
- Difficulty arranging childcare
- Increased stress and pressure on women, who often still shoulder primary caregiving responsibilities.
Furthermore, wage reductions, especially the loss of bonuses for night and weekend work (common in sectors like distribution), disproportionately affect women and push them into more precarious situations, increasing their vulnerability.
Beyond pensions, what other issues are impacting women in Belgium?
Several factors contribute to the challenges faced by Belgian women:
- Stalled Modernization of Abortion Law: This indicates a lack of progress on reproductive rights
- Wage Reductions: Particularly, the loss of bonuses for night and weekend jobs affect women, who are more likely to hold such positions.
- Increased risk of Violence: precarious working conditions can make women more vulnerable to violence.
What actions are being taken by women’s rights advocates in Belgium?
In response to these concerns, advocates are:
- organizing and participating in protests, such as the Marche mondiale des Femmes (World Women’s March) in Brussels.
- Speaking out against government policies that exacerbate inequality.
- Calling for policies that prioritize gender equality and end discrimination.
- Resisting policies from the “Arizona” government that are perceived to worsen inequality.
Who are the key figures in the Belgian women’s rights movement mentioned?
The article highlights the following individuals:
- Maartje de Vries: President of Zelle
- sofie Merckx: Head of the PTB group in the chamber
- Raoul Hedebouw: President of the PTB
How does the gender pay gap contribute to pension inequality in belgium?
The gender pay gap directly contributes to pension inequality because women earn less than men for similar work. This results in lower contributions to their pension funds over their working lives, leading to smaller pensions upon retirement.
Summary of Key Issues and Concerns
| Issue | Description | Impact on Women |
|---|---|---|
| “Malus Pension” | Pension reform penalizing early retirement (before 67). | Disproportionately affects women due to lower wages, care responsibilities, and physically demanding jobs. |
| labor Flexibility | Government push for more flexible labor practices. | Makes balancing work and family life more difficult, especially for women. |
| Wage Reductions | Cuts in pay, particularly for night/weekend work. | Pushes women into precarious situations and heightened vulnerability. |
| Stalled modernization of Abortion Law | Lack of progress on reproductive rights | Restricts women and people with uteruses from having autonomy over their bodies. |
| Gender Pay Gap | Women earning less than men for similar work. | Contributes to women receiving smaller pensions upon retirement. |