Massive nationwide protests have commenced in France against President Macron’s plan to overhaul the pensions plan in the French nation.
Macron has proposed a plan to both lower the retirement age and lower pensions and will take part in a debate involving 600 citizens today. The first will involve a series of public meetings organized to try to convince workers to key into the new pension scheme.
Macron hopes to unify the pension scheme which currently has a different set of rules for each sector of employees. Civil servants, rail workers and aircrew all have unique and special pensions scheme. The French President hopes to unify the system so all French workers have the same pensions right and make the system sustainable over the coming years.
However, unions have argued that this new move will require people to work for longer and reduce the existing pensions even though the government promises that the official age for retirement (62) will not change.
Trains, buses and even subways have stopped operations for an indefinite period as on Wednesday evening, some Police staff, lawyers and tourists cancelled travel plans and Paris has now deployed thousands of Police to help manage the impending crisis.
The police have also warned of possible violence and ordered businesses and restaurants to shut down operations.
Air France cancelled 30% of its domestic flights, 55% of government teachers have joined the strike movement and hospitals have also joined in the movement.
