Belgian newspaper, De Morgen, has announced the layoff of 15 journalist and editorial staff, The Epoch Times reported on Tuesday.

In December the major Belgian newspaper said they would have to fire 26 staff members, but after discussions with union representatives the figure of 15 was reached last week. Two of those staff had decided to leave on there own accord.

Before the bottom fell out of advertising revenue, induced by the global economic crisis, the newspaper had hired a number of new journalists in an ironic attempt to bring in more advertising cash.

Now however, according to The Epoch Times the advertising decline means more redundancies are likely.

The fragile employment conditions are also effecting journalists' writing, according to critics. Belgium newspapers are criticized for declining to tackle the "difficult issues" and this is being confounded by industry layoffs as journalists protect their positions with popularity.