Belgian Carrefour confirmed that six shops were closed on Friday morning | Olivier Hoslet/EPA Workers strike at Belgian supermarkets amid coronavirus crisis Some Carrefour staff temporarily walk off the job.

Six Belgian branches of Carrefour were closed on Friday morning after staff at the shops went on strike, demanding more protection and better pay during the coronavirus crisis.

Belgian Carrefour confirmed that shops were closed in the morning but stressed they are operating normally for the rest of the day.

CSC, the trade union that represents supermarket employees, has said that the workers demand "more respect" for their jobs on the frontline of the pandemic. Delphine Latawiec, the union's representative for retail workers, said the employees should get better pay and more protection in the shops.

The union already received a proposal from Carrefour's management, but didn't think it was good enough, Latawiec said.

"Supermarkets are currently making a lot of money. I think it's not so difficult to give some of this money to the men and women on the ground, who are taking so much risk," she added.

Belgian Carrefour declined to comment on details of the negotiations.

According to confidential retail data, supermarket sales have significantly increased in Europe during the coronavirus crisis. But industry insiders claim that the supermarkets also are spending more than usual, especially on extra staff and anti-virus protection.

Latawiec said the workers decided to organize the strike in the morning because they didn't want to "act against the consumers." She didn't exclude the possibility of further strikes.

Belgian media reported earlier this week that workers in some Delhaize shops refused to work. In France, trade unions also called for retail workers to go on strike to demand better protection.

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