Chefs' Whites Laid out in Protest in Brussels

11 May, 2020

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A protest against the government’s lack of action to save Belgium’s failing restaurant sector saw hundreds of chefs' whites laid out in the Grand Place in the centre of Brussels.

The action was to highlight the plight of the country’s hospitality sector, which is the third biggest employer in Belgium.

How Cities are Planning to Manage Restaurants Reopening

The protest is calling for the government to make concessions on VAT and make economic support for staff available up to the end of 2020. The lockdown has been in place since March, with some restrictions being eased gradually, however bars and restaurants will remain closed until June at the earliest.

"Today with all of the fixed costs, we can't keep up if we can't count on state aid," said Antoine Pinto, well-known industry figure and owner of the Belga Queen restaurant. "So we are placing our clothes on the Grand Place, symbolising the loss of the restaurant sector."

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