Prison service staff say they will go on strike later this month unless junior justice minister Fred Teeven withdraws reform plans, which include closing down a number of prisons.

Action committees have given Teeven until April 18 to come up with changes or face a nationwide strike a week later, news agency ANP reports.

Teeven is planning to close dozens of prisons and several secure psychiatric units in order to cut spending by €340m. He also plans to increase the use of multiple occupancy cells and put more people under electronic surveillance. The reforms will cost 3,700 jobs.