The streets of Paris are littered with piles of rubbish.

Strikes and demonstrations by cleaning workers have been going on for days against the French government’s pension reform, which aims to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.

More than 7 thousand tons of garbage piled up in the streets and sidewalks of the capital. Passing by the piles of garbage at Gare de Saint-Lazare, one of the tourist areas of Paris, people began to walk with masks because of the smell they gave off.

On the other hand, due to the garbage that accumulates on the sidewalks, citizens sometimes have to use the road as a sidewalk.

In the 6th arrondissement of Paris, there is a pile of rubbish every 5 meters on the sidewalks.

CLEANING WORKERS AGAINST THE MOVING PENSION REFORM

Cleaning workers in Paris went on strike earlier this month against the reform, which the government aims to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, sparking 8 mass strikes across the country since January.

Cleaning workers say their jobs are “tough” and that if the bill passes, many will die before reaching retirement age.

The government, on the other hand, blames the municipality for the piles of garbage on the streets of Paris.

Government spokesman Olivier Veran, referring to the thousands of tons of rubbish in the city, said: “The city of light (Paris) is dying under mountains of rubbish.” he used the phrase.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin also warned the municipality to intervene and announced that he would intervene if it did not.

Paris Police Chief Laurent Núñez sent a warning to the Municipality of Paris at Darmanin’s request.

Mayor Anne Hidalgo, for her part, argued that the cleaning workers had the right not to work for two more years and stated that they would not comply with Minister Darmanin’s request. (AA)