France strikes: PM offers to temporarily withdraw controversial pension plans on 38th day of nationwide protests

Union welcomes proposed change as sign of government's 'will to compromise'

A man holds a banner reading "living yes ! Surviving no !" as protesters demonstrate in Paris (AFP via Getty Images)

The French Prime Minister has offered to temporarily withdraw plans for controversial pension reforms following weeks of protest action in towns and cities across the country.

In a letter to union chiefs, Edouard Philippe said he would be willing to pull back plans to raise the age at which citizens would receive full pension benefits.

It comes as strikes against the changes to the law roll into their 38^th day, with protestors including CGT union members and Gilets Jaunes activists taking to the streets of Paris to air their grievances with the policy introduced by Emmanuel Macron.

The proposal to extend the age at which workers would be eligible to full state pension benefits to 64 from 62 was considered to be among the most controversial elements of the reforms that made up a key election pledge for Mr Macron in 2017.

Initially the French government had proposed increasing the pension age to 62 years and four months in 2022 - gradually increasing the boundary until it was set at 64-years in 2027.

In his letter Mr Philippe said that he was "prepared to withdraw from the bill the short-term measure which I had proposed, consisting in gradually converging from 2022 towards an equilibrium age of 64 years in 2027'".

It is unclear if the change will be enough to simmer tensions that have led to protest action the length and breadth of the country since December. At the time the letter was announced activists amassed at the Place de la Republique in Paris remained sceptical – urging for action to carry on until the withdrawal of the policy takes place while singing "and we will go until we withdraw, and we will go until we withdraw".

However union the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT) welcomed the move, saying it marked "the government's will to compromise" and will help to "continue discussions" on the policy.