PARIS: France’s Senate has voted to raise the retirement age by two years from 62 to 64 as the government seeks to reform the country’s pension system. The move was met with resistance from labor unions who strongly opposed the proposed changes.
The conservative majority legislature voted in favor of the decisive article to raise the retirement age to 115 by 201 votes.
Debate will resume later on Thursday on a controversial amendment to the bill.
The Senate majority is rushing to meet Sunday’s midnight deadline to finalize the legislation.
Liberal politicians expressed anger after the vote.
“Your name will forever be associated with a reform that will turn the clock back almost 40 years,” Socialist Monique Leuben told Labor Minister Olivier Dusupt.
Labor unions have vowed to put pressure on the government through protests and strikes.
Fuel deliveries, trains and flights were disrupted for the second day after mass rallies on Wednesday.
Key seaports were also closed, as dock workers were among those joining rolling strikes to try to convince President Emmanuel Macron to withdraw the bill, which he are champions.
Macron has put change at the center of his political agenda, with his government arguing that raising the retirement age and tightening full pension requirements are necessary to prevent the system from plunging into deficit.
France lags behind most of its European neighbours, which have raised the retirement age to 65 or above.
