French govt says 'willing' to withdraw contested pension reform proposal

French Prime Minister on Saturday said thathe was "willing to withdraw" the most contested measure in the government's retirement reform: to make people work two years longer until 64 to qualify for a full pension.

"To demonstrate my confidence in social partners... I am willing to withdraw from the bill the short-term measure I had proposed" to set a so-called "pivot age" of 64 with effect from 2027, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe wrote in a letter to union leaders a day after they met seeking to end a crippling transport strike now in its 38th day.

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French unions have been demanding the government drop its reform in their biggest show of strength in decades.

The reform bill - which parliament is due to debate from mid-February - proposes to progressively raise the age at which workers can retire on a full pension to 64 "for the 1965 generation who will retire from 2027".