French President Emmanuel Macron plans on reforming the national retirement policy of France. His planned changes would develop a new universal system, simplifying the current 42 distinct regimes. At the moment under the current system, employees within certain industries are receiving better benefits than others; those receiving lesser benefits have gone on strike throughout the country to make it so that they receive the same benefits, as well.

These strikes add onto the giles jaunes (“yellow vests” in French) demonstrations that began last year in response to increasing fuel taxes. The yellow vest protests have been expanding to incorporate general anti-government sentiments, which includes the growing disapproval of President Macron’s proposed reforms.

Thee protests are now over a month old, reaching the milestone on January 3rd, 2020, making it the longest protest in France since the mid-80s; the previous “record” as 28 days, set by transport workers back in 1986. The current strikes are predicted to last another month by economics specialists.

On Tuesday, January 7th, government officials and trade union members gathered to try to reach an end to the strikes. French officials offered the French Democratic Confederation of Labour, France’s largest union, an offer to further discuss financing pensions for retirement later on to end the standstill over the minimum age of retirement. The finance minister of France believes that a compromise is close.

Information Source: Fodor’s Travel, CNBC, The Guardian

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