French Senate passes key measure of pension reform bill before national strike

French Senate passes key measure of pension reform bill before national strike

2010-10-12 15:42:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- The French Senate on Monday passed a key measure of the pension reform bill proposed by President Nicolas Sarkozy that will raise retirement age for workers with full pension from 65 to 67.

Senators approved the measure with 174 votes in favor against 159 votes. The decision was made after a long debate led by Labor Minister Eric Woerth. The approval was made one day before a massive strike hit France as it was announced by union leaders.

"We are not here to make things easy: We do not always be accepted by the population. It is complicated to tell French people that they must work more, until reaching 67 years, but it must be done," Woerth said.

Last Friday, the upper house lawmakers Senate approved a measure to raise the country's retirement age from 60 to 62. The rest of the points of the reform will be discussed and voted upon this October.

The French government expects the whole reform to be passed by the end of the month. However, union leaders announced that on October 12 an unlimited strike will begin in protest of the measure.

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