France strikes today against the pension law

As the French went on national strike for the 12th time today against a law that would raise the retirement age, unions called on workers to quit their jobs and join the demonstrations.

The plan by the government of President Emmanuel Macron to raise the retirement age by two years to 64 sparked a huge backlash from workers and unions, sparking widespread strikes across the country, the latest of which is today.

The law, approved by Parliament but not yet enacted, will be reviewed by the Constitutional Council. The unions ask Macron to withdraw or stop the law to calm things down.

FRENCH AGAINST THE LAW

Although recent polls show that a large part of society is against raising the retirement age; Refinery workers, garbage collectors and teachers can also join the action as part of the strike, which is expected to disrupt train services today.

Strikes against the law have slowed in the industrial sector recently, and the demonstrations were fewer in number than the historically large protests that had brought millions to the streets in previous months.

The strike that took place today is important because it took place just before the decision of the Constitutional Council on the legitimacy of the law that will be announced tomorrow.

If the council gives the green light to the law, the government will be able to enact it and put it into effect.

“RAISE THE TAX ON THE RICH”

Macron told a press conference on Wednesday that he will hold a meeting with the unions to start working on other proposals after the Council’s decision.

Making remarks during his state visit to the Netherlands, Macron said: “The country; “We must keep moving forward, working and facing the challenges that await us.”

Macron and his government argue that the law is necessary to ensure that France’s pension system does not collapse. Unions say this could be done in other ways, including raising taxes on the rich or making deeper changes to the pension system. (Reuters)