Public sector strikes and student protests take to France’s streets

France faces a day of public sector strikes and demonstrations on Tuesday, with employees demanding higher wages, better working conditions and improved public services.

The action brings pay and workplace concerns to the streets alongside demands to strengthen the services public sector staff provide.

Firefighters are also holding a separate march in Paris, coinciding with the wider day of industrial action.

Meanwhile, calls are growing to expand protests by secondary school students over teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms.

The parallel mobilisations put pressure on several fronts, from conditions for public employees to staffing and classroom capacity in schools.