The ban on wearing religious symbols at STIB-MIVB is overturned?

The government in Brussels is forcing STIB-MIVB to allow signs of worldviews in the workplace in the future. That becomes clear from the response of competent Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen party) to a question from Cieltje Van Achter. Van Achter denounces the government’s decision: “This is not what STIB-MIVB staff want, nor what the city needs.”

After STIB-MIVB was found guilty of discrimination in the first instance two years ago, the Brussels government demanded that the transport company work on a new neutrality policy. An internal survey recently showed that the vast majority (62.7%) of STIB-MIVB staff think there should be a general ban on wearing signs of religious belief at work.

The Brussels government does not want neutrality

During a debate in the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region this week, it became clear that this request from the staff will not be granted. The Brussels government is asking STIB-MIVB to adjust its policy of neutrality and thus to abandon the principle of strict neutrality currently applied.

Against the will of the staff

“Incomprehensible,” says Cieltje Van Achter. “The government is forcing STIB-MIVB to give signs of worldviews a place in the workplace. And that is based on one labour court judgement that the same court has since contradicted! In the meantime, it has also become clear that the STIB-MIVB staff themselves want to stick to the current policy of neutrality and see no place for signs of worldviews in the workplace. So just accept that, then?”