Updated: 02/21/2013 19:07 | By Agence France-Presse

Some 10,000 Belgians march against austerity

More than 10,000 people gathered in Brussels' city centre Thursday in a protest against austerity called by the country's three major trade unions.

"Pensioners, the unemployed and the sick don't even have the minimum needed to be able to adjust their revenues," said CSC trade union leader Claude Rolin.

The trade unions were protesting against the government's decision to freeze wages as well social welfare payments and the minimum wage.

Although unions did not call a general strike, public transport was snagged across the country, with buses badly hit in Brussels but trams and the undergound rail system were running at 75 to 80 percent.