'Pay More and Receive Later' French Pension Reform... 3rd Protest Against It

Government and Labor Union "Decrease in Number of Participants"

The third nationwide protest against the French government's pension reform took place across France. However, the number of participants was confirmed to have decreased compared to previous protests.

Eight major French labor unions called for the third strike on the 7th (local time), the day after the National Assembly began deliberations on the pension reform bill. Union members from the transportation·energy·education sectors participated in the protest.

Scenes from the third protest against pension reform held in Toulouse, France.
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

The Ministry of the Interior estimated that 757,000 people participated in the anti-pension reform protests held in major cities including the capital Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, while the unions counted about 2 million. The government estimated participation as ▲1st strike (1.12 million) ▲2nd strike (1.27 million), and the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) estimated ▲1st strike (2 million) ▲2nd strike (2.8 million), with both agreeing that the number of participants has decreased.

The Paris Transport Corporation (RATP) and the Electricit? de France (EDF) unions joined the strike, causing inconvenience to citizens in bus and subway operations as well as electricity supply. Teachers and students also participated in the strike, affecting schools, but the impact was reported to be less severe than in previous strikes, according to BFM TV and AFP news agency.

Currently, the French National Assembly is deliberating the pension reform bill, and opposition parties such as the left-wing coalition 'NUPES' and the far-right National Rally (RN) have submitted amendments opposing the government's reform plan.

The government has warned that without reforming the pension system, deficits will occur, and it aims to raise the pension eligibility age from 62 to 64 by 2030.

Additionally, the government plans to advance the timeline for increasing the required contribution period to receive 100% pension benefits from 42 years to 43 years, moving the target year from 2035 to 2027.

Meanwhile, the eight French unions, which have formed a united front for the first time in 12 years, have announced a fourth strike scheduled for the 11th.