Xinhua
18 Mar 2023, 06:30 GMT+10
Refuse collectors have been on strike in Paris for 12 days. On Thursday, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced she is activating a special constitutional power to force passage of the pension reform bill, leading demonstrators to set garbage on fire in the French capital.
PARIS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Over 10,000 tons of garbage has piled up in the streets of Paris due to the municipal sanitation workers' strike against the government's controversial pension reform bill, the City Hall said on Friday.
Refuse collectors have been on strike in Paris for 12 days. On Thursday, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced she is activating a special constitutional power to force passage of the pension reform bill, leading demonstrators to set garbage on fire in the French capital.
Striking sanitation workers are also blocking the three waste incinerators in the Paris suburbs.
However, not all the city's 20 arrondissements (quarters) are invaded by garbage, since ten are serviced by private companies.
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo supports the social movement against the pension reform bill. "The claim of the garbage collectors of the City of Paris who legitimately wish not to work two more years is fair," she said at the beginning of the strike.
Her position has sparked controversy in Paris, with many accusing her of contributing to the poor state of hygiene and rats in the city.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin asked Hidalgo to use administrative measures to force refuse collectors and street cleaners to come back to work, but Hidalgo has refused.
The Paris police force has therefore requisitioned municipal workers to "evacuate most of the waste, and ensure that a collection service can be set up." Those who refuse to comply will face a 10,000 euro (10,600 U.S. dollars) fine and six months in prison.
The sanitation workers began striking to express their discontent over the pension reform bill, which will raise the legal retirement age for this category of worker from 57 to 59. Their colleagues in other major French cities such as Marseille, le Havre and Nantes quickly lent their support to the movement.
Elisabeth Borne's announcement she is activating Article 49.3 of the country's constitution, allowing the government to force passage of the pension reform bill without a vote at the National Assembly, has sparked anger across the country.
Spontaneous demonstrations on Thursday saw protestors in Paris using garbage as barricades during clashes with security forces, and setting garbage bins on fire.
Get a daily dose of Switzerland Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Switzerland Times.
More InformationDUBLIN, Ireland: Bank of Ireland has announced that it has raised fixed mortgage rates following a cumulative 3.5 percent rate ...
Brussels [Belgium], April 2 (ANI/WAM): In 2022, the EU trade in goods balance registered a large deficit of Euro 432 ...
Rome [Italy], April 2 (ANI): Use of English or any other foreign language by citizens in Italy for formal communication ...
The pro-war lobby has put the entire bloc in danger over Ukraine, the Hungarian prime minister saidThe EU has forsaken ...
Brussels [Belgium], April 1 (ANI): Many of the EU members feel that granting Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus to ...
The bloc is facing ?destruction? because its policies are totally subject to those of Washington, the Belarusian president has warnedThe ...
EDINBURGH, Scotland: Humza Yousaf, the first Muslim to lead a democratic western European nation, was sworn in as Scotland's new ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Potentially hampering US efforts to arm Ukraine against Russia's invasion, rebuild local infrastructure and boost production, manufacturers of ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: After a series of high-profile incidents aboard US aircraft, several bipartisan lawmakers will again push for legislation to ...
HANOI, Vietnam: Tensions were again increasing off the coast of Vietnam as Hanoi ordered its navy to shadow a Chinese ...
In Warsaw last February, President Joe Biden condemned the lawless Russian invasion of Ukraine: "The idea that over 100,000 forces ...
TOKYO, Japan: Fears over intensifying Chinese military activity directed towards Taiwan could escalate into war have prompted Japan, the United ...