Belgium faces closed schools and disrupted train and air travel as unions call for three days of strikes starting Monday to protest the government's proposed spending cuts and labour law changes.

The strikes are taking place in three waves. Trains and public transport begin striking Monday, with national railroad company SNCB expecting to run two out of three trains, or just one out of three on some lines. Several Eurostars linking Brussels to Paris have been cancelled.

On Tuesday, public services such as schools, creches, and hospitals join the strike.

For Wednesday, unions have called for a full general strike covering all categories.

No flights are expected Wednesday at the country's two main airports, Bruxelles-Zaventem and Charleroi.

- 'Contempt' -

The strike was called by the m

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