France braces for 4th round of protests against pension reform

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – French workers on Saturday will take to the streets in mass, for the fourth time since January, to protest planned pension reform, according to media reports.

Workers from all sectors continue to express objections to the reform plans revealed by the government in January.

Almost 240 demonstrations are expected to be seen across the country in a fourth round of protests, following the rallies on Jan. 19, Jan. 31, and Feb. 7, according to daily Le Figaro.

Some labor unions decided to organize walkouts on Saturday, while others, including national railway operator SNCF workers, refused to not penalize the French families willing to travel during the schools' winter break.

Parisian regional transport operator RATP does not expect any major disruptions, Le Figaro added.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote Friday on Twitter that 10,000 police officers will ensure security during the protests, including 4,500 in Paris.

The reform plans, which have triggered public outrage, include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 in 2030 and requiring at least 43 years of work to be eligible for full pensions.