France’s parliament has given final approval to a bill to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, a reform that has sparked weeks of strikes and street protests, Associated Press reports.
The National Assembly approved the final text of the bill in a 336-233 vote Wednesday, marking its final hurdle in parliament. Conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy is not expected to sign it for several weeks.
The vote comes as two straight weeks of pension strikes are losing momentum. Still, unions hope to revive the movement Thursday with nationwide street demonstrations and strikes expected to cause new hassles for air travelers.
France‘s parliament is expected to grant final approval Wednesday to a bill raising the retirement age to 62, a reform that has infuriated the country‘s powerful unions and touched off weeks of protests and strikes.
The vote in the National Assembly comes as protests over President Nicolas Sarkozy‘s pension reforms are losing momentum. Unions are hoping to revive the movement with nationwide strikes and demonstrations Thursday.
Although some striking refinery workers have gone back to work, French drivers are still facing substantial fuel shortages: As of Tuesday evening, about one gas station in five was still closed down, with the worst problems around Paris and in western France.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010280195654
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