FRENCH leader
Emmanuel Macron is facing growing pressure from workers across the country protesting against his proposed labour reforms with 15,000 taking to the streets in
Paris today to make their voices heard.
President Macron faced yet another week of widespread protests as students joined striking rail workers and civil servants to protest the French leader's proposals to reform the country's strict labour code.
Footage posted on social media shows marchers expressing their anger by lighting up flares and chanting against the President.
The crowd can also be seen carrying signs urging the Government to stop railways becoming privatised – a decision which triggered a series of strikes which are expected to carry on until June.
Nurse Dominique Hubert, who took part in the demonstration to call for more funds for health services, told Le Monde: "We want to express how much we are suffering.
"Our wages haven't been raised since 2008. Funds must be unblocked to help nurses both in the private and public sector.
"We also want replacements for those workers who have retired."
Ms Hubert said she had joined previous protests to express her support to railway workers whose jobs are being targeted by Macron's plans to privatise part of the sector.
The Government’s plans to overhaul the state-owned SNCF railway firm – which is some £39 billion (€45 billion) in debt – and they have vowed to continue until at least June 28.
Ms Hubert added: "We have identical reasons to protest. We're all denouncing the decline in purchasing power. I think Emmanuel Macron will understand why there's so many of us."
National newspaper Le Figaro reported of clashes between protesters and the Police – with tear gas and water cannons being deployed to disperse the crowd.
Tweeting from the scene of the clashes, FranceInfo reporter Benoit Zagdoun said: “Rocks are flying towards the police blocking a cross street. A barricade appears. Police take out tear gas for reinforcement.
“Water cannon is deployed. Considering the warmth it’s not really calming people down.”
Mr Macron has come under fire on many fronts for pledging to rapidly push through his radical reform agenda, which includes a controversial reform of the debt-ridden SNCF rail company and a new bill designed to tighten France’s immigration and asylum policies.
The rail workers’ strike, which entered its third week on Monday and is set to continue until at least June 28, has paralysed France’s transport network and brought disruption to millions of commuters.
On Tuesday, parliament’s lower house approved the railway reform bill strikers are fighting against, which includes plans to scrap their special employment benefits, including job-for-life guarantees and early retirement.