Since January, millions of people have taken to the streets across France in protest at the government’s pension reform plans. Women have been essential to the demonstrations since the reforms would disproportionately affect women workers.
The French president is facing his biggest ever domestic political crisis, less than a year after his re-election to a second term. The reforms to the retirement age and the benefits that come with stopping work prompted an outcry across France. It is uncertain what Macron will propose to calm the storm on the streets.
The government argues that raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 and stiffening the requirements for a full pension are required to balance the pension system amid shifting demographics. But unions say the proposed measures are unfair and would disproportionately affect low-skilled workers who start their careers early, as well as women.
Opponents of the reform have succeeded in framing the pension debate in much larger terms, focusing on the questions of how wealth is distributed under Macron, and whether the poorest and most vulnerable will carry the burden of his proposals.
Women are currently disadvantaged because they tend to retire later than men and have lower pensions — approximately 40% less than men.
This is for several reasons: lower salaries than men and also the fact women tend to work more part-time or have less continuous careers than men because they take maternity leave or to take care of their children or a sick family member, for example.
Are women going to be disadvantaged by the reform?
But economists believe the new pension reform will increase this already existing disadvantage.
Under the planned rules, women born in 1972 will have to work nine additional months compared to only five months for men born the same year. Women born in 1980 will have to work eight more months, while men only four.
Currently, pension rights allow women to leave at 62 and receive the full pension rate if they took their full maternity leave. But Macron’s pension reform will no longer take this maternity leave into account which means mothers will have to wait two more years before retiring.
According to Elena Bassoli, a health economist at the Paris School of Economics, the reform will also negatively impact women working in certain sectors.
“Nurses, teachers or cleaners which are mainly occupied by women could be hit hard by the pension reform especially for women at the end of their career. Staying one or two more years in this type of physically challenging job could have a negative impact, for example, on the women’s health,” she told Euronews.
The government promised to increase the minimum pensions especially for women up to 1,200 euros before tax. However, experts argue this policy – while welcome – will only benefit few women in the workforce.
“There are two conditions for this increase: you must have worked the full 43 years. But 40% of women retire with an incomplete career,” said Sophie Binet, Secretary General of CGT Cadres Union, in charge of gender equality.
“The second condition is that this complete career must be full time and 30% of women work part time. So, not many women will receive this pension increase,” she told Euronews.
Sources: Euronews, France25