BRUSSELS--A massive transport strike severely paralysed domestic rail and bus services all over Belgium as drivers held a 24-hour strike which started last Sunday.

Some trade unions joined the strike and protested the high cost of living in the country. They lambasted the government’s inability to ease, if not solve, inflation.

Two main railway stations in Brussels were closed, forcing the cancellation of all rail services to France, the Netherlands and Germany.

Highways and roads were congested since many commuters used their cars instead.

Government offices, some establishments, and some schools were closed because many employees joined the strike.

But since the public was notified of the strike days before it happened, many citizens opted to stay and work from home to avoid encountering problems on the road.

Others decided to walk as far as 5  kilometers to go to work.

For some Pinoys who rely solely on public transport, the strike made an impact on their daily income.

Precy Gasta, who works as a cleaner, complained about the effects of the national strike, which is the second this year.

“Napakalaki ang mawawala sa amin. Isang araw na mawala sa amin ay napakalaking halaga na. Wala na kaming maibibigay na malaking tulong sa aming anak. Isa pa, paano kami makakarating dun? Sa tanda ko nang ito, di ko na kayang maglakad ng sobrang layo”, she sighed.

Pina Payucong, another daily-paid OFW, attested that loosing a day’s income means a lot to an average income earner like her.

“Malaking kabawasan ang kita ko sa araw na ito kasi biruin mo, isang araw. So nakakaapekto rin yan sa budget namin, pambayad ng apartment o pampadala sa Pilipinas”, she said.

An average daily income of daily paid workers range from 80-100 euros or at least 5,000 pesos.

Those who have been badly affected by the strike hoped that the unions, the employers and the government would come to terms to avoid a national strike, which would again affect their incomes.