Nearly 6,000 union activists gathered in the streets of Brussels, Liege and other Belgian cities Monday to demonstrate against a 1996 law on wage standards.

The protesters' main complaint stems from stagnant pay, which they say doesn't align with a rising cost of living that stems from near-record inflation in November of 5.64 percent.

"Our message is for government and employers," said Jean-Michel Cappoen, secretary-general of SETCa, a Belgian union with 425,000 members.

"The main issue is the purchasing power, which is very limited. It is practically impossible to expect salary increases. There is a law that blocks this. We are here to denounce this law – particularly in the context of an increase in energy prices, which affects all countries."

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Activists called for action by employers and governments to reassess the situation and improve their purchasing power.

"There are no negotiations to improve our purchasing power. There is not a single employer opening their door to raise our salaries," said Yvonne, an FGTB union member.

Others voiced concerns over decreasing negotiating power by unions and changes to their bargaining powers.

"We should obtain better recognition from the employers, but also from the political sphere," another FGTB union member told CGTN Europe.

Organizations representing companies were quick to push back on the union claims and suggested demonstrators' demands "ignore the reality" of the current economy.

The unions also want to reverse a court decision to sentence 17 union members on suspended jail terms and fines for taking part in a blockade action on a bridge in 2015.

"If we don't fight for it, we'll all be silenced one day, we won't be able to say anything more. We will become workers who will answer 'yes' to everything all the time and this is not normal," union representative Vylma Tchiakpe told Reuters.