Molenbeek Workers Rally Ahead of Budget Vote on 40 Layoffs

Around 100 workers from the CPAS (Public Centre for Social Welfare) of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean gathered outside the institution’s headquarters on Wednesday morning, protesting the planned dismissal of 20 staff members ahead of a crucial communal council budget vote scheduled for Thursday. The mobilization, organized by the joint union front CSC-CGSP-SLFP, marks the latest chapter in a deepening budget crisis facing one of Belgium’s poorest communes, as reported by RTBF.

Background: A Commune in Financial Stranglehold

Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, home to approximately 100,000 residents in the Brussels-Capital Region, has long struggled with severe financial constraints. According to an analysis published in March, the commune operates with €380 less per inhabitant than the Brussels regional average. This structural underfunding has been compounded by rising mandatory costs — including increased police funding requirements imposed by the federal government — and growing social needs, with the CPAS managing between 8,000 and 8,500 social assistance files.

The current governing coalition, an unusual left-wing alliance of the Socialist Party (PS), the Marxist Workers’ Party (PTB/PVDA), and the local list Molenbeek Autrement (MaMa), took office in December 2024. Mayor Catherine Moureaux (PS), who returned from a year-long burn-out leave in March 2026, has described the budget exercise as extraordinarily challenging.

The Budget and the Layoffs

On June 19, the College of Mayor and Aldermen presented a “budget vérité” (truth budget) projecting a deficit of €312,000 on a total budget of approximately €255 million — a figure that would have reached €1.793 million without drawing on reserves. To bridge the gap, the commune announced 40 job cuts: 20 at the communal administration and 20 at the CPAS, as detailed by RTBF.

The affected workers were notified the previous Thursday and Friday. The cuts are expected to save approximately €2 million per year starting in 2027. Additionally, the year-end bonus will be reduced by roughly 40% for the lowest salaries and up to 80% for senior executives and college members. A policy of not replacing retiring staff, already in place for three years, will continue.

Police positions (882 full-time equivalent) have been protected through 2026-2027, and €1 million has been allocated for expanding the surveillance camera network. Investments in four communal schools and the extension of the Maison des Cultures will be maintained.

Union Response and Mobilization

Unions have reacted with shock and anger. On Monday, June 22, workers held an initial work stoppage, with around 100 staff gathering at CPAS headquarters. Wednesday’s rally was the second mobilization, and unions have announced further actions coinciding with Thursday’s council vote.

Mohamed Adllal, permanent delegate of the CSC Services Publics, questioned the criteria used for selecting which workers would be dismissed: “Were the criteria respected? For what reasons are these people being laid off? We want answers,” he said, as reported by L’Avenir.

Yves Lodonou, local permanent of the CGSP-ALR, noted that teams are already stretched thin: “For years, departures have not been automatically replaced. The teams are already working at full capacity.”

Carine Rosteleur, Brussels regional secretary of the CGSP-ALR, described the situation as “inaudible” (unthinkable), adding: “For years we have been mobilizing for the refinancing of CPAS institutions, and today they are reducing further.”

CPAS President Expresses Regret

Ahmed El Khannouss, President of the Molenbeek CPAS and a member of the MaMa local list, addressed workers directly during Wednesday’s rally. According to union representatives, he sought to reassure staff while acknowledging the painful nature of the decisions. He described the layoffs as resulting from a structural problem, stating they were undertaken “pas de gaieté de cœur” (not gladly) and calling the situation a “crève-cœur” (heartbreak) for the communal authorities, as reported by La Libre.

Broader Implications for Brussels

The Molenbeek crisis is being closely watched across the Brussels-Capital Region. Yannick Van Boeckel of the SLFP union warned: “Today it’s Molenbeek, but tomorrow it could concern other CPAS institutions.” Without structural refinancing by federal and regional authorities, unions predict similar layoffs could hit other Brussels communes as early as 2027.

The crisis highlights a fundamental tension: a left-wing coalition — whose constituent parties, particularly the PTB, champion pro-worker and pro-social-services policies — is being forced to implement austerity measures that include laying off public sector workers. This political dilemma underscores the severity of Molenbeek’s financial predicament.

What’s Next

The communal council is scheduled to vote on the budget on Thursday, June 25. Unions plan to be present to challenge political leaders on the financial situation and its consequences for workers and social service beneficiaries. A general assembly will be held after this week’s actions to determine the next steps, with unions not ruling out further mobilizations in July or late August.

The outcome of Thursday’s vote — and whether the regional government will step in with additional funding — will determine whether Molenbeek’s crisis remains an isolated case or becomes the first domino in a broader collapse of social welfare funding across Brussels.