More than 7,000 tonnes of garbage piling up on Paris streets: What’s happening in France?

What is the current situation in Paris?

Three incineration plants outside the capital have ceased operations and left entire pavements covered in overflowing bins, according to France24. Paris’ household waste agency Syctom said it has not resorted to calling in the police yet and is currently re-routing dustbin lorries to other storage and treatment sites in the region.

“It makes me sick,” said Gursel Durnaz, who has been on a picket line for nine days. “There are bins everywhere, stuff all over. People can’t get past. We’re completely aware.” But, he added, if President Emmanuel Macron withdraws his plan to increase the French retirement age, “Paris will be clean in three days,” while speaking with AP.

What are the proposed changes in the retirement age?

Despite strikes in France across major sectors, including transport, energy and ports, French President Emmanuel Macron’s government continues to push the unpopular pension reform Bill and get it passed in Parliament. The Bill would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 for some workers and from 57 to 59 for most people in the sanitation sector.

What are workers’ concerns?

This reform is seen by many as unfair to people who start working early. According to the hard-left CGT union, refuse collectors and drivers can currently retire at 57 years of age but would have to put in two more years of work under the reform plans, which still grant early retirement for those who faced tough working conditions.
Life expectancy for garbage workers is 12-17 years below the average for the country as a whole, the CGT says, as reported by France24.

What is the government’s stand?

The measures were backed by the upper house or Senate on Saturday and will next go to a joint committee of MPs from both Houses on Wednesday to decide on the final text. The government needs 287 votes, and even if it can persuade all its 250 MPs to support the reforms, it will still require the support of another 37 lawmakers from other parties.

The stakes will be high on Wednesday for both the government and the striking workers. Unions are organising their eighth nationwide protest march, which will coincide with a closed-door meeting of seven senators and seven lower-house lawmakers who will try to reach a consensus on the text of the Bill. Success would send the legislation back to both houses for voting on Thursday, as reported by AP.

“What makes France turn are the invisible jobs. … We are unfortunately among the invisible people,” said Jamel Ouchen, who sweeps streets in a chic Paris neighbourhood, while speaking with AP.

“They are quite right to strike,” said the 36-year-old Pastry chef Romain Gaia, who works in the 2nd district, while speaking with France24. “Normally they have no power, but if they stop work they really have (power).”