• Live
    • Audio Only
  • google plus
  • facebook
  • twitter
News > France

France: Tenth Day of National Protests Against Pension Reform

  • Protesters participate in a demonstration against pension reforms from Montparnasse Square in Paris, France, 20 February 2020.

    Protesters participate in a demonstration against pension reforms from Montparnasse Square in Paris, France, 20 February 2020. | Photo: EFE

Published 20 February 2020
Opinion

After more than 60 days of struggle, French workers are not willing to give up their rights.

The French unions are carrying out the tenth day of a general strike against the bill for the pension reform proposed by President Emmanuel Macron.

RELATED:

France to Impose More Controls on Mosques in Its Territory

"We will not give up because we are convinced of the correctness of our analysis. This project will be a danger in the coming decades," the Labor Force (FO) secretary Yves Veyrier said.

On Feb. 17, Macron handed his bill to the National Assembly, where his party, the Republic in March (LREM), has a large majority. Its first vote is scheduled for early March.

Today's strike is actively supported by teachers, health workers, lawyers, and railroad personnel. There are also demonstrations in different cities where citizens demand the total withdrawal of the bill.

Through the new law, President Macron seeks to merge 42 different pension schemes into a single pension system. These schemes offer early retirement and other benefits to some public sector workers, lawyers, physiotherapists, employees of the Paris Opera, and other professionals.

After several weeks of intense demonstrations, the French government withdrew its proposal to increase the minimum retirement age to 64 years, an issue that caused outrage among citizens.

Nevertheless, Macron insists on making changes to the pension system to achieve what he calls a "more equitable and solvent" retirement system.

French workers hold that the proposed reforms would force the population to work longer for a smaller pension, which would be a setback of their rights.

Comment
0
Comments
Post with no comments.