Paris: The French Senate has finally passed the ambitious pension reforms bill, which will raise retirement age from 60 to 62. The bill now goes to the lower house for approval on Wednesday.
However, there is still no sign of the anti-reforms strike ending. The protests have taken a huge toll on the citizens with trains running late, schools closed and tonnes of rubbish piling up on the streets.
Fire on the street as the French continue to debate the retirement age reform bill. But caught in between are the people between acute fuel shortages and rubbish piles in Marseille, the second most populous city of France
"Well, for me the situation in Marseille is abusive. I live in Marseille, the situation is pathetic. It is disgusting. It must stop," said a resident of the place.
Babette Renvoye, Building Manager said, “I am fed up. Every morning I clean up my rubbish. I think about property owners, about the school across the street with the children. We are not here to suffer the consequences - the unhygienic situation. I do as I can - I clean up my rubbish every day."
However, the Union is adamant and wants to usher in the reform and feels the protest on the streets would die down.
Eric Woerth, French Labour Minister said, “We have to accept making an effort in the name of retirement. Every country has done this. Danes retire at 67 years old, the British at 66 years old, the Germans at 67 years old, and we have done this in a way that the French can retire at 62 years old. So this is a reform that isn't brutal, it's a necessary reform and at the same time reasonable."
But the strike has taken a toll on the country's struggling economy. According to a conservative estimate, 279 million dollars have gone down the drain.
Comments
0 comment