French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe stated that he is willing to withdraw a proposal to increase the retirement age to 64 in a settlement with striking trade unions. The reform has triggered more than monthlong national demonstrations.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe offered a meaningful adjustment with the unions after trade groups took to the streets for a fifth straight day of rallies and demonstrations against French President Emmanuel Macron’s overhaul of the pension system.
In a letter to unions and employers, PM Philippe added that
he was ready to make a proposal to the unions, based on a settlement, after talks on Friday.
He said he was ready to withdraw his proposal to raise the retirement for full pension benefits by two years to 64, under certain conditions. The new, extended retirement age would have been implemented in 2027.
“To express my confidence in the social partners, I am prepared to withdraw from the bill the short-term measure I had proposed.”
He delivered the message as thousands of demonstrators swamped the streets of Paris and other major cities in France.
The trade unions and their collaborators have called on the government to withdraw its plans to raise the conventional retirement age, using mass protests that have interrupted rail traffic and restricted access to public transportation since December 5.
Through the proposal, French Prime Minister Philippe is looking quell the continuous protests and develop better ties with trade unions like France’s Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT).
The intended boost to the retirement age is part of the government’s efforts to fuse 42 present pension schemes into a singular, points-based method that trade unions fear will make citizens work for more years, only to get a smaller pension.
France has asserted that the proposed “pivot age” would control rising pension shortfalls, and save 11 billion euros (US$12.2 billion) by 2026.