Paris, 7 February 2023 (dpa/MIA) – Mass demonstrations and a general strike have been called for Tuesday in France to oppose President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms.

The government aims to raise the pensionable age in steps to 64 from the current 62, but is reliant on votes from the opposition liberal conservative grouping of the Republicans. It has yet to secure a majority for its plans in the National Assembly.

As well as raising the pensionable age, the government led by Macron also aims to speed up the increase in the time over which contributions must be paid to secure a full state pension.

A further measure will abolish special pension privileges for particular groups of workers. The minimum pension is to rise to around €1,200 ($1,290) per month.

The current official pensionable age is 62, but people retire later on average, as those who have not paid in for long enough to claim the full pension work for longer. A full pension is paid from the age of 67, irrespective of the number of years of contribution. The government aims to retain this provision.

The left in France - along with the far-right nationalists - rejects the reforms.

The plans face opposition in the population, with almost two thirds opposed, according to opinion polls. They have provoked mass demonstrations that have brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets.