BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 10, 1948.

Capitalizing on the gains made with the Marie Popelin Act, the General Labor Federation of Belgium, emboldened by recent reforms and encouraged by the excellent management of secretary general Paul Finet, has decided to launch a series of strikes against the government after pressures from the feminist movement to pass measures to protect women in the workplace have failed.

These strikes and protests have lasted from October 10 to October 22 of 1948 in a series of critical industries, which has somewhat hampered economic development during that year. However, the Spaak government has decided to concede on a series of measures defended by women, which shall be elaborated below.

BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 30, 1948.

The approval of Law 10-10-1948

On this day, Prime Minister P.-H. Spaak has decided to approve Law 10-10-1948, with the approval of the King-Regent, Charles. This law, interpreted as a landmark in women's rights within the country, has implemented the full legalization of women's access to the magistracy, acknowledging a historical demand since the time of Marie Popelin. Another key development was a series of articles that defined equal pay between men and women. It is a widely celebrated achievement, although, given the patriarchal nature of Belgian society, it is likely that this law will be regularly flouted, with limited government monitoring and enforcement.

The law also grants limited rights towards maternity leave, with provisions allowing it for up to eight months following birth, although the employee must present comprehensive medical documentation confirming the need, including regular medical check-ups, as well as a minimum notice period. Although an employer-approved leave plan had been in the works, another threatened strike by the FGTB curbed these articles before they were approved. It is also emphasized that, although the law formally says that it is up to eight months, it is likely that the time approved would be between four and six months of maternity leave.

To conclude, the law also implemented proportional fines according to revenue to companies that engage in the unjust termination of pregnant employees or perpetrate discrimination based on gender. These fines have the objective of - attempting - to foster a culture of accountability towards the employers, although this has been amply criticized by the Christian Social Party as an unfair mechanism towards employers.

The FGTB gains popularity

At around the same time that Law 10-10-1948 was being signed into legislation, the FGTB had been holding a rally in Brussels in order to celebrate their success in pressuring the Spaak government into signing this law. The federation had been overall lukewarm towards the socialist government regarding the women's suffrage issue and overall women's rights for a political, rather than principled, reason. The federation believed that, the longer the government delayed new measures towards gender equality, the longer the other political parties, such as the Liberals and the Christians, had to garner the female vote.

It was with this in mind that the FGTB spearheaded the movement and, now, they are being celebrated for this victory, with membership numbers increasing at record levels. Some statisticians project that, by the end of 1950, the FGTB will likely be the largest labor federation in the country. Belgian film and documentary maker Henri Storck has decided to collaborate with the FGTB in filming the rally for a brief, forty-minute documentary that is set to be released in March of 1949 called the Struggle of the Centuries, depicting the resurgence of labor movements in post-war Belgium.

SUMMARY

• The Belgian government has sanctioned Law 10-10-1948, granting women the right to participate in the magistracy. The law also guarantees equal pay, although enforcement currently remains limited. Furthermore, the law entitles women to maternity leave for a duration of up to eight months; however, the prevailing average is between four to six months. To conclude, the law also introduces proportional fines applicable to companies that unfairly terminate pregnant employees or engage in gender-based discrimination.

• The FGTB has gained popularity due to their role in passing this new law. They are on their route to becoming the largest labor federation in the government.