PARIS — Stéphane Vardon has worked as a conductor on France’s high-speed and suburban rail network for 20 years. So this week, when nearly one million French citizens demonstrated nationwide to protect pension benefits that are the envy of much of the world, Mr. Vardon, 46, was among them, marching through the streets of Paris. “People will have to work longer and have less money for their retirement,” said Mr. Vardon, citing a common fear of Mr. Macron’s plans. We know he won’t do anything for the workers.’’While France’s official retirement age may be 62, the actual age varies widely across the country’s labyrinthine system. Train drivers can retire at 52, public electric and gas workers at 57, and members of the national ballet, who start dancing at a very young age, as early as age 42.

Source: New York Times December 07, 2019 00:00 UTC