02:09French President Emmanuel Macron met with representatives of French industry and business in Paris on Tuesday, after announcing an action plan to improve conditions for French workers in the framework of the pension reform.
Leaders of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), the Confederation des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (CPME) and the Union of Local Entrepreneurs were welcomed by Macron in the Elysee Palace to discuss the implementations of the pension reform, while trade union representatives were absent despite being invited. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne and Minister of Labour, Employment and Integration Olivier Dussault.
"Since the unions were not present, we need to be the ones communicating with them to know where they stand on the work of seniors," said Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux, President of MEDEF adding that "I don't want to start negotiations if we already know they will lead nowhere."
The meeting comes after Macron promised new measures to improve salaries and working conditions, as well as education, law and order and healthcare, during an address to the nation on Monday evening. The pension reform plans, which have led to widespread unrest across the country since they were announced in January, were passed by the government without a vote in the National Assembly and include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. The Constitutional Court approved the changes on Friday last week.
The administration has argued that the reforms are necessary to keep the system solvent. Following the president's speech, workers' unions vowed to continue the fight against the changes.
France: Unions absent as Macron meets business, industry leaders to discuss pension reform
French President Emmanuel Macron met with representatives of French industry and business in Paris on Tuesday, after announcing an action plan to improve conditions for French workers in the framework of the pension reform.
Leaders of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), the Confederation des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (CPME) and the Union of Local Entrepreneurs were welcomed by Macron in the Elysee Palace to discuss the implementations of the pension reform, while trade union representatives were absent despite being invited. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne and Minister of Labour, Employment and Integration Olivier Dussault.
"Since the unions were not present, we need to be the ones communicating with them to know where they stand on the work of seniors," said Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux, President of MEDEF adding that "I don't want to start negotiations if we already know they will lead nowhere."
The meeting comes after Macron promised new measures to improve salaries and working conditions, as well as education, law and order and healthcare, during an address to the nation on Monday evening. The pension reform plans, which have led to widespread unrest across the country since they were announced in January, were passed by the government without a vote in the National Assembly and include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. The Constitutional Court approved the changes on Friday last week.
The administration has argued that the reforms are necessary to keep the system solvent. Following the president's speech, workers' unions vowed to continue the fight against the changes.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with representatives of French industry and business in Paris on Tuesday, after announcing an action plan to improve conditions for French workers in the framework of the pension reform.
Leaders of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), the Confederation des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (CPME) and the Union of Local Entrepreneurs were welcomed by Macron in the Elysee Palace to discuss the implementations of the pension reform, while trade union representatives were absent despite being invited. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne and Minister of Labour, Employment and Integration Olivier Dussault.
"Since the unions were not present, we need to be the ones communicating with them to know where they stand on the work of seniors," said Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux, President of MEDEF adding that "I don't want to start negotiations if we already know they will lead nowhere."
The meeting comes after Macron promised new measures to improve salaries and working conditions, as well as education, law and order and healthcare, during an address to the nation on Monday evening. The pension reform plans, which have led to widespread unrest across the country since they were announced in January, were passed by the government without a vote in the National Assembly and include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. The Constitutional Court approved the changes on Friday last week.
The administration has argued that the reforms are necessary to keep the system solvent. Following the president's speech, workers' unions vowed to continue the fight against the changes.