Pension reform law comes into force

A CONTROVERSIAL law extending the state pension age in France by two years, from 60 to 62, has officially come into force this morning.

The text, which has been the subject of weeks of industrial unrest, was signed by Nicolas Sarkozy last night - six days earlier than planned - and was published today in the Journal Officiel.

France's constitutional judges ruled yesterday afteroon that there was nothing in the law that could be considered anti-constitutional, and therefore gave their seal of approval.

The green light meant Sarkozy could promulgate the law quickly before heading to the G20 summit in South Korea. He had originally planned to sign it on his return next Monday.

The Conseil Constitutionnel, which examines the fairness of new legislation, struck out 13 minor clauses relating to occupation medicine, not because they were anti-constitutional but because they had nothing to do with the main aim of retirement reform.

The judges rejected complaints by the Socialist party that parts of the law went against the principle of equality.

The court said that special arrangements in the law for women who had raised at least three children, and therefore did not have a full contributions history, were fair.

The state pension age will increase by four months a year from July 2011, to reach 62 for those taking retirement in 2018.

The age at which you can take a full-rate pension if you have an incomplete payment record will also rise, from 65 at present to 67, between 2016 and 2023.

Socialist party leader Martine Aubry said the Conseil Constitutionnel "had fulfilled its judicial role, but that does not stop us from criticising a reform that is as unfair as it is ineffective".

Unions have called a futher day of industrial action, on November 23, against the reforms.

Strikes, demonstrations and blockades have been commonplace in France since the rentrée in September, affecting public transport, petrol deliveries and rubbish collection in some areas.

With the pensions law passed, President Sarkozy's next job is a cabinet reshuffle, tipped to be taking place on Monday or Tuesday next week.

The Nouvel Observateur says Jean-Louis Borloo, the ecology minister who had been tipped as the next prime minister, has told colleagues that Sarkozy has not chosen him for the role.

Instead, François Fillon is expected to remain in post.

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