Bernice: Yes, here workers are on strike since 9 days, the situation is difficult, there are many manifestations, and workers have blocked refineries so it becomes difficult to get petrol for the car. It's also difficult to travel because actually very few trains.
French people don't want to work after 60 because they want to live as they want, to travel, to make things they don't have time to do when they work.
The problem is also that our president Sarkozy does as he was deaf and rejects all the negotiations, even for hard jobs as building jobs.

Mélusine: Do your people get Government pensions when you retire or do you have to fund your own retirement?

Bernice: The government pays a pension but it's not very simple because people also get a particular pension scheme according to the job they had before.

Mélusine: I see :) our pensions are all the same base rate, but then it depends on how much money/property you own. you are allowed to own about $300,000.00 worth of property/cash before you get penalized I think...

Mélusine: The base rate for a single person is just over $700.00 per fortnight, and for a couple it is about $1100.00

Bernice: The minimum we have is :
for 1 person : 708,96 €uros/month (973,98 $)
for 1 couple : 1157,47 €uros/month (1590,15 $)

Bernice: We have to contribute, to work, during minimum 40 years and it will be 41 years in 2012.
And for you, how many years ?

Mélusine: we dont have to contribute anything....we pay taxes on our money is all.

Bernice: Ah yes. So, you can retire when you want ?

Mélusine: no you retire when the Govt. thinks you should LOL....at the moment it is 65 for men and about 63 for women, but that will change in 2012 when they bring in the new ages.

Bernice: 65 it's very late.