The government in France has proposed raising the retirement age in the country from 62 to 64 by 2030 as part of reforms to the pension system.

The increase in retirement age will be gradual at a rate of three months a year.

The proposed process is scheduled to start in September, reaching 63 years and three months by 2027 and hitting the target age of 64 in 2030.

French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, presented the proposal to parliament yesterday (10 January), and acknowledged that the increase in pension age was likely to raise “questions and fears” among the French people.

However, she warned that not doing anything about the forecast deficits in the pension system would be “irresponsible”.

"It would lead inevitably to a massive increase in taxes, a reduction in pensions and would pose a threat to our pensions system,” Borne stated.

Trade unions were quick to voice their disapproval of the increase in retirement age, with strike plans for 19 January announced already.

Alongside the raising of the retirement age, several other proposals were presented as part of the reforms.

The amount of time working needed to receive a full pension will rise from 42 years to 43 and a guaranteed minimum pension income will be introduced.

This income level will be set at no less than 85 per cent of minimum wage for new retirees.

Public sector workers in mentally or physically demanding jobs will keep the right to retire earlier than the wider workforce, but their retirement age will rise at the same rate.

Borne also announced that differing retirement ages and pension benefits for certain workforces, such as rail workers, would end.

"We offer today a project to balance our pension system, a project that is fair," Borne said.

During his bid for re-election, Macron had previously stated that the retirement age would be raised to 65, but this plan was delayed following backlash.

This raise has now been tempered to 64, but it has already drawn criticism from unions and opposing parties’ MPs.

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