Just hours after rail unions finalised plans for a week-long walk-out, the joint union front at TEC—the public-transport operator covering Wallonia—issued an updated notice confirming that all depots will observe strike action from Monday 26 January through Friday 30 January. The stoppage is officially open-ended, meaning further escalation is possible if negotiations on budget cuts and staffing levels stall.
Unlike the national rail sector, TEC is not bound by Belgium’s minimum-service legislation, so entire routes can be suspended. TEC management has warned passengers to check route-specific updates from 06:00 each day but concedes that “strong network-wide disruption” is inevitable. For globally mobile staff based in Liège, Charleroi and Namur—or those commuting from these cities to Brussels by train—this compounds rail disruption, eliminating many last-mile options. Ride-hailing platforms anticipate surge pricing, and regional taxi associations are already reporting full bookings for Monday morning.
![Wallonia’s TEC bus & tram network to join strike wave, threatening last-mile mobility]()
For expatriates or global assignees who suddenly need to extend Belgian stays or arrange alternative Schengen travel because of the strike, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. The service’s Brussels portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) allows HR teams to upload documents, track progress and secure visa renewals or multi-entry permits quickly—helping companies stay compliant even when transport chaos disrupts normal routines.
Companies hosting expatriate assignees in Wallonia should circulate contingency information in multiple languages and remind blue-card holders that failing to clock in because of cancelled buses is generally not considered “unauthorised absence” if documented. Where possible, employers can activate car-pool allowances that remain tax-exempt up to €420 per year under Belgian law.
The Walloon Government has remained silent, but business federations UWE and CCI Wallonie are urging rapid talks, claiming the strike could cost the regional economy up to €12 million per day in lost productivity. Mobility managers therefore need to map critical roles that require on-site presence and confirm hotel options near facilities in case the strike extends into the following week. (striketracker.app)
Unlike the national rail sector, TEC is not bound by Belgium’s minimum-service legislation, so entire routes can be suspended. TEC management has warned passengers to check route-specific updates from 06:00 each day but concedes that “strong network-wide disruption” is inevitable. For globally mobile staff based in Liège, Charleroi and Namur—or those commuting from these cities to Brussels by train—this compounds rail disruption, eliminating many last-mile options. Ride-hailing platforms anticipate surge pricing, and regional taxi associations are already reporting full bookings for Monday morning.
For expatriates or global assignees who suddenly need to extend Belgian stays or arrange alternative Schengen travel because of the strike, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. The service’s Brussels portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) allows HR teams to upload documents, track progress and secure visa renewals or multi-entry permits quickly—helping companies stay compliant even when transport chaos disrupts normal routines.
Companies hosting expatriate assignees in Wallonia should circulate contingency information in multiple languages and remind blue-card holders that failing to clock in because of cancelled buses is generally not considered “unauthorised absence” if documented. Where possible, employers can activate car-pool allowances that remain tax-exempt up to €420 per year under Belgian law.
The Walloon Government has remained silent, but business federations UWE and CCI Wallonie are urging rapid talks, claiming the strike could cost the regional economy up to €12 million per day in lost productivity. Mobility managers therefore need to map critical roles that require on-site presence and confirm hotel options near facilities in case the strike extends into the following week. (striketracker.app)
