Protests across France to test Macron government's resolve over pension reform
FirstpostParis: Thousands of people gathered to take part in demonstrations across France on Saturday as protesters attempt to keep up the pressure on the Emmanuel Macron-led government over its plans to make people work longer before retiring. After three days of nationwide strikes since the beginning of the year, unions are hoping to match a mass turnout from January 19 when more than a million people marched in opposition to pushing the age to take a full state pension to 64 from 62. The French people spend the largest number of years in retirement among OECD countries - a benefit that opinion polls show a substantial majority are reluctant to give up. Changing the retirement age by two years and extending the pay-in period would yield an additional 17.7 billion euros in annual pension contributions, allowing the system to break even by 2027, according to Labour Ministry estimates.