French labor unions have launched a nationwide strike to protest pension reform proposals by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The 24-hour labor stoppage is set to disrupt public transport, air traffic and the postal service.
Organizers say they expect hundreds of thousands of people to join the protest, with demonstrations scheduled in cities across France.
The strike comes as parliament today begins a debate over the plan to overhaul the pension system which will see the minimum retirement age raised from 60 to 62 years by the year 2018.
In June, some 800,000 people took part in protests against the proposals, but President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he will not back down.
compiled from agency reports