Editorial photo #9524546 Social Issue
Toulouse: More Than 60,000 People Took To The Streets Against The Macron' Pension Reform
Dressed in protest attire, a woman holds a pink shield reading "Don't let the pension reform harm women again" as more than 60,000 people (80,000 according to the unions) take to the streets of Toulouse for the second time in two weeks to oppose the proposed pension and retirement age reform. Labour unions across France have jointly called for a day of major strikes and protests against President Emmanuel Macron's government, whose plans to reform the pension system and raise the retirement age to 64 from 62 have been met with disapproval from the vast majority (93%) of workers already facing a cost-of-living crisis. Nearly all sectors of the workforce have called for the strike and protest, including miners and energy workers, healthcare workers, teachers, truck drivers, refinery workers, and bank workers. The retirement age would be raised to 64 years (for 43 years of continued work) and pensions would be lower, particularly for women, those with "short careers" and those on low wages. The COR (Counsel of Pension Guidance), which is directly under the Prime Minister's Office, stated in its latest report on September 2022 that there is no need to reform the pension system, as its share in the French GDP is expected to remain steady until at least 2070. Toulouse, France, January 31st 2023. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)
