Hundreds of Tata Steel employees will join thousands of fellow steelworkers at a protest in Belgium today, 15 February.

More than 500 employees, with about 150 workers from the UK, are expected to meet over 5,000 steelmakers in a demonstration against unfair cheap Chinese steel imports.

Tata Steel has announced major job cuts to the UK industry in recent months, including 750 jobs at Port Talbot and 900 positions in Scunthorpe.

In addition, 270 posts were lost as the company closed two steel plants in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

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The demonstration of workers and executives has been organised following a flood of 'unfairly-traded' imports into Europe.

Chinese steel shipments into Europe leapt more than 50% last year, while imports from Russia and South Korea jumped 25% and 30% respectively.

Tata Steel;s European CEO Karl Koehler said: "The situation facing Tata Steel and other European steel makers today is perilous. If the European Commission does not take immediate and robust action, thousands of jobs in the industry – and many thousands more in the wider supply chain – will be threatened.

"We are not asking for special treatment. Instead, we are asking for the European Commission to stand up for fair trade and to give European steelmakers a chance to compete on a level-playing field."

(LM/MH)