Belgium: a bus driver suspended after being filmed praying

The scene was filmed by a passer-by in the Merenstraat in Duisburg, a locality in the municipality of Tervuren. The images show the bus parked and the driver praying on a mat, set up at a bus stop. Having gone viral in recent days, the video alerted the transport company, which quickly identified the employee, who works for a subcontractor in Flemish Brabant.

"Forbidden to pray during service"

Confronted with the images, the driver admitted the facts, admitting to having parked his bus to pray. The company reacted firmly through the voice of its spokesperson, Marco Demerling, who recalled that "the work regulations and working conditions clearly stipulate that it is forbidden to pray during service".

As a result, the subcontractor imposed a four-day suspension on the employee. De Lijn specified that the case was not closed and that it was currently being examined to determine whether other sanctions could possibly be applied in the future.