Pension age reform in france: new poll shows support for a return to age 62

EMPLOYERS' ORGANISATIONS AND TRADE UNIONS ARE CURRENTLY MEETING TO DISCUSS THE SUBJECT ON THE ORDERS OF PRIME MINISTER FRANÇOIS BAYROU A new poll shows support for a return in France to

the previous retirement age of 62 (it was raised to 64 in 2023). It comes as private consultation between three trade union organisations (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC) and the two employers'

organisations (Medef, CPME), organised by Prime Minister François Bayrou, continues after beginning on February 27. So far it is reported to have made little progress, with Assistant General

Secretary of the CFDT union Marylise Léon telling French media on March 28 that the discussions had so far been dominated by the questions of procedure. “We clarified our relationship with

the government and the fact that we no longer want any interference,” she said, adding that after a month of meetings “the discussion could finally start in earnest”. However, a poll of

1,000 French voters conducted on March 19 suggests a clear majority favour a return to the previous age of 62, which was changed to 64 in 2023 despite widespread opposition. Nonetheless,

pensions in France still cost up to 13% of GDP, far more than in both the UK (4.9%) and US (7.1%), prompting calls from fiscal conservatives to further increase the retirement age -

typically resulting in widespread protests.