The French government is “willing to withdraw” from its pension reform project the measure encouraging people to work until the age of 64, unanimously rejected by the unions, said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe in a letter sent to union and employer organizations on Saturday. .
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The head of government had promised to make an announcement today to try to end the strike that has paralyzed transport, especially in the Paris region, for five weeks.
However, he said in his letter that the social partners will have to agree on the measures to be implemented to ensure the financial balance of the pension system in 2027 otherwise this measure could be reinstated.
This “pivotal age” of 64 was the most contested measure in the pension reform project. It aimed to gradually encourage the French to retire at 64, under penalty of being inflicted a penalty, while the legal retirement age is currently set at 62.
This measure is a red line for all unions and especially the first of them, the CFDT, yet favorable to the principle of the reform wanted by the government of a universal points system.
The reformist union “praised” in a statement on Saturday “the withdrawal of the pivotal age of the pension bill”, which it sees as “the government’s will to compromise”.
The CFDT “will continue discussions within the framework proposed to answer the questions that remain about the future universal regime,” she wrote.
Employers and unions must now engage in a conference on balance and the financing of pensions, which will have to deliver its conclusions “by the end of April”, demanded the Prime Minister.
If they fail to find the measures to keep the system balanced by that date, the government will take over, he warned.
“I want to be perfectly clear on this point: I will take my responsibilities,” insisted the Prime Minister.
It remains to be seen whether this compromise will be enough to put an end to the strike movement. The unions at the forefront of the protests – the CGT and FO – demanded for their part the outright withdrawal of the pension reform project
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