France is facing the risk of an outbreak of wars strike new large-scale protest once morest pension reform plan by the President’s Government Emmanuel Macron promote.
Earlier polls showed a majority of French voters opposed the pension reform plan, which proposes to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, as well as increase the contributions needed to enjoy a pension. full.
After a large-scale strike with more than 1 million workers participating on January 19, the French government has signaled that a number of measures may be adjusted, including special incentives for workers. who started working at a very young age, increased support for mothers who had to leave work to care for their children or who wished to improve their education.
However, the provision on raising the retirement age was not discussed. Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne said on January 29 that “it is not a negotiable issue right now.”
While welcoming the government’s openness in negotiating the terms of the reform plan, unions oppose the proposal to increase retirement agearguing that this reform is “unfair.”
Eight major unions in France have planned a new strike for January 31.
[Pháp: Phản đối cải cách lương hưu, đình công quy mô lớn tại Pháp]
The French government estimates 1.1 million workers might join 240 strikes across the country on January 31, while unions say the number might be more than 2 million, with high risk of disruption to traffic, as well as the operation of schools and administrative agencies.
Some local governments have announced the temporary closure of public spaces such as stadiums.
Observers say that for President Macron, this strike is a test of his ability to carry out reforms and keep public spending under control.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as one of the countries with the lowest retirement age in the group of industrialized countries, France is spending nearly 14% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on wage subsidies. retirement, more than most other countries.
Adjusting the pension system was central to President Macron’s reform agenda when he came to power in 2017.
However, he postponed promoting this plan in 2020 when France had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
(VNA/Vietnam+)
