French government braces for third wave of strikes over pension reform

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French government braces for third wave of strikes over pension reform

The National Assembly in Paris was held on February 6, 2023. PHOTO AP PARIS - President Emmanuel Macron and his government on Tuesday braced for a third wave of nationwide strikes and protests against plans to make French work longer before retirement, as the bill started its bumpy passage through parliament.

Rail services will be disrupted, school classes will be canceled and refinery deliveries impacted as workers from multiple sectors walk out, and trade unions have urged the public to take to the streets in big numbers.

The government says that people must work two years longer - meaning for most until the age of 64 - in order to keep the budget of one of the industrial world's most generous pension systems in the black.

The French spend the largest number of years in retirement among OECD countries - a deeply cherished benefit that a large majority are reluctant to give up, according to polls.

Our pension system is in deficit, Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt told parliament on Monday afternoon as lawmakers began debating the bill. We're acting for generations to come and for our generation. The government says that the reform will allow gross savings of over 17 billion euros $18 billion per year by the year 2030.

ALSO READ: Protest in France, pressure on Macron's pension reforms.

The money can be found elsewhere, notably from the wealthy, according to the unions and leftist opponents. The Conservatives, whose support Macron needs for a working majority in the National Assembly, want concessions for those who start working young.

Former Socialist president Francois Hollande told BFM TV that the reform will never be accepted if the most wealthy don't contribute. The highest earners contributed to pension reforms, even that of conservative Nicolas Sarkozy. There is nothing here. More than a million people marched in cities across France during the first two days of strike action in January, as public pressure grew against a government that insists it will stand its ground on the reforms main planks.

READ MORE: France hit by second nationwide strike against pension reform in the country.

There are more than 20,000 amendments in parliament, the majority of which are from the leftwing Nupes alliance. After just two weeks, because the reform has been tacked onto an annual social security bill, the government may send it to the Senate.

In a concession to conservatives, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has offered to let some people who start work early retire early - but Les Republicains lawmakers are divided over whether the proposed starting age of 20 -- 21 is low enough.

Someone who starts work earlier stops working earlier. What is so hard to understand about Elisabeth Borne, Aurelien Pradie, a lead LR critic of the current proposal, tweeted.