French PM fails to appease strikers with pension reform plan

PARIS: France's prime minister sought to strike a conciliatory note on Wednesday as he unveiled a controversial plan to overhaul the country's pension system, but failed to appease striking unions which vowed to expand a crippling week-old transport freeze.

In a televised address, Philippe sought to assuage unions' fears by saying the changes would be implemented gradually,"without brutality", and would not affect workers born before 1975. Unions at state rail operator SNCF called for the transport strike to be"reinforced" in response, while the biggest union at Paris's public transport operator, UNSA, said efforts to get people to work longer crossed"a red line".

Philippe had announced a guaranteed minimum pension of €1,000 for minimum-wage workers, higher than some groups, including farmers, currently receive, but well under the average pension of just over €1,600 in 2017. "To guarantee our pension, to finance a higher level of solidarity, to benefit from a higher life expectancy without increasing taxes, the only solution is to work a bit longer, and progressively a bit longer, as is the case everywhere in Europe and everywhere in the world," said Philippe.

Philippe said unions themselves would fix the euro value of a point in consultation with parliament, and a"golden rule" would be written into the new pension law to guarantee that the value of a point"cannot go down".

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

French PM warns of long pensions standoff in face of new protestsFrench Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warned ruling party lawmakers Tuesday to brace for a long battle over the government's pension reforms, as ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Great day for losers: Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney gets prestigious French medalPARIS (AFP) - The Wimpy Kid has finally done good - and his creator Jeff Kinney has even got a medal from France to prove it.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

French pension strikes expand, police gird for new protestsPARIS (AP) - French airport workers, teachers and others joined nationwide strikes on Tuesday (Dec 10) as unions cranked up pressure on the government to scrap changes to the national retirement system.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

French schools hit as unions call new mass pension protestsFrench teachers walked off the job for the second time in a week Tuesday and demonstrators hit the streets again on the sixth day of a strike over ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

French workers need to work until age 64 to get full pensionPARIS (AP) - French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the minimum retirement age will remain 62, but workers will have to work until 64 to get a full pension.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Iran dismisses Macron's call for release of two jailed French nationals: MediaIran dismissed as interference in its state matters French President Emmanuel Macron's call for the release of two French nationals jailed in the ... France one of those USA's alliances to sanction Iran lol , good try Macron .
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »