Customs work-to-rule action causes delays at Brussels Airport; further action planned

A “work-to-rule” or “go-slow” action by customs officers at Brussels National Airport (BRU) on Friday caused significant queues and waiting times for arriving passengers.

The disruption, which began around 9:00 AM, was confirmed by Florence Angelini, spokesperson for the Federal Public Service (SPF) Finance, and was attributed to a “movement of discontent” among customs agents over planned changes to their work schedules.

Grievances Over New Shifts

The customs officers are protesting a reform that would implement shorter work shifts, which agents argue would necessitate more commuting and result in fewer consecutive days off at home. The work-to-rule action, which involves meticulously checking a greater number of bags at the exit of the baggage reclaim area, resulted in considerable bottlenecks and rising tensions among travellers.

The action at Brussels Airport concluded by mid-afternoon, with passenger arrivals returning to normal flow.

Escalation to Other Airports

The protest movement is set to escalate, as the National Union of Public Services (UNSP) announced that customs officers at Liège Airport (LGG) will begin their own work-to-rule actions starting Monday, November 17. This follows similar ongoing protests by customs officers in Antwerp.

The UNSP strongly condemns the proposed schedule reform, arguing that the new rotas “profoundly disrupt” the work-life balance, increase the number of mandatory breaks (especially on weekends), and constitute a “serious threat to the health, well-being, and family life of the personnel” without offering any operational benefit.

Administration Response

Facing the deadlock, the UNSP is demanding the immediate suspension of the reform project and the reopening of genuine consultation.

The SPF Finance spokesperson, Florence Angelini, reported that consultation with union representatives took place on Friday afternoon. An agreement was reached to postpone the implementation of the new shift schedules, pushing the start date from January 1, 2026, to March 1, 2026.