While strikes launched yesterday to protest the reform that will raise the retirement age by two years in France continue today, shipments from French energy giant TotalEnergies’ refineries have been temporarily halted, electricity production has declined across the country and there have been severe interruptions in train services.

According to information provided by the Ministry of the Interior, about 1.28 million people participated yesterday in the demonstrations as part of the sixth and most popular mobilization against the government’s reform proposal.

54 percent of 269 workers are on strike

While the anti-reform demonstrations are of great importance to both unions and the government, President Emmanuel Macron hopes parliament will approve the reform, which will raise the retirement age by two years to 64, before April.

The unions are now aiming to increase pressure on the government by carrying out indefinite strikes at workplaces, including at TotalEnergies refineries.

TotalEnergies announced today that 54 percent of the 269 refinery workers on shift are on strike.

Fuel deliveries have been disrupted by strikes at Esso refineries in the north and south of the country, CGT union representative Germinal Lancelin told Reuters. (Reuters)