FRANCE was brought to a standstill today as the country saw its eighth day of strikes against controversial plans by the government of President Emmanuel Macron to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Opinion polls show that the legislation is opposed by around two-thirds of the French people, including a staggering 74 per cent of women.

The latest strikes and more than 200 demonstrations across the country came as French senators and deputies finalised a final draft version of legislation which is opposed by more than two thirds of the population. 

The Senate is expected to approve the new draft on Thursday.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne claims that she now has the votes in the Assembly to force through the plans. 

Rubbish has piled up on the streets of Paris after a week of strike action by refuse collectors.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called on socialist Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo to force refuse collectors back to work. But she refused, saying that she supported the strike.

Train drivers, schoolteachers and dock workers were among the hundreds of thousands of workers who walked off the job.

About 20 per cent of flights at Paris-Orly airport were cancelled.

Despite widespread opposition to the plans, opinion polls show that most French people believe that the government will get its way with the legislation.

CGT general secretary Philippe Martinez said: “There is no resignation or weariness on our side. We will not accept this reform.”

French Communist Party general secretary Fabien Roussel said: “Ten parliamentarians have agreed among themselves on the pension reform.

“It’s a theft, a theft of life, behind closed doors, behind the backs of the French.”

Mr Roussel called on the people of France to “challenge your senators and deputies to tell them not to vote for this text.”