Protests outside Ikea stores over drivers' working conditions

Protests were held in front of seven Ikea stores in Belgium on Monday to complain about working conditions for hauliers.

The Belgian Transport Union (UBT) organised the day of action and handed out leaflets to shoppers in Hognoul, Ghent, Hasselt, Wilrijk, Arlon, Mons and Zaventem. Similar operations took place in other countries as well.

Philippe Dumortier, Hainaut province secretary of the UBT accused the group of "social dumping".

He said: "We want customers to realise that the sub-contractors Ikea uses for the transport of its goods are foreign, underpaid with almost non-existent social protection.

"These workers are therefore not paid at the rates in force in Belgium, which allows the chain to make big profits and the drivers work under conditions that are often unacceptable. Ikea refuses for the moment any constructive dialogue with the International Transport Workers' Federation."

An Ikea Belgium spokeswoman said: "It is important for drivers to work under fair conditions, and we always work within legal frameworks. We now have a code of conduct that is fairly strict."

The company said the code of conduct had strict conditions for sub-contractors governing pay, working conditions and respect for local laws.