Paris: The protest against the pension reform in France has passed nine days. Many protest rallies were held nationwide. There are thousands of protesters on the streets. Protesters disrupted train services at many places. Schools were also closed in many places. Protesters blocked the highway near Toulouse and the bus depot in Rennes. Garbage was seen everywhere in the city.
The protest is against raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. President Emmanuel Macron is taking the action as a matter of prestige. Macron’s position is that the law cannot be enforced. He said on Wednesday that things are progressing in such a way that the law will come into effect by the end of this year. The reason for the objection by the employees is that those who do not work till the age of 64 will not get retirement benefits and full pension. Unions came forward with opposition when the law was drafted. They have been protesting since January.
One of the leaders of the CGT union, which strongly opposes the pension reform, said that hundreds of thousands of employees have come to the streets to protest so that President Macron can make things clear.
So far, the protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations. Workers’ anger has been evident in demonstrations in Paris and other cities over the past few days. Some people burnt waste bins and other things and there were clashes with the police in some areas. Labor unions say there is strong sentiment against Macron. Opinion polls also show opposition to the pension reform. There is also objection that the bill is introduced in the Parliament without a vote.
Labor Minister Olivier Dassot said that although the anger of the employees is understandable, the government has only option to go ahead with the pension reform.