France's National Assembly approves controversial pension reform bill

France's National Assembly approves controversial pension reform bill

2010-10-27 22:38:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- The French National Assembly on Wednesday gave its final vote of approval to the controversial pension reform bill that will raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.

French lawmakers voted 336 in favor and 233 against. Earlier, Senators gave its final 177-151 vote approval for Sarkozy's plan. After the National Assembly vote, opposition lawmaker Bruno Leroux told French that the Socialists will appeal the law to the country's constitutional court.

Union leaders have said that nationwide strikes will continue after the reform was approved, but the strikes, which in recent weeks focused on the oil sector and threatened to paralyze the country, are losing steam.

On Monday, the National Oil Association said that all blockades on France's fuel depots had been lifted. Last week, President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered riot police forces to remove strikers from the entrances to the depots to allow trucks through.

Also on Monday, three unions announced that they had voted to call off their strikes at three French oil refineries. They said the refineries in Fos-sur-Mer, Gravenchon and Reichstett would reopen immediately and restart operations as soon as possible.

The French government also announced that the fuel shortage costs the country up to three billion euros ($4.2 billion).

Trade unions have called for new strikes on October 28 and November 6.

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