French MP Proposes New Plan for Pension Freeze
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The French government had a plan for pensions. It wanted to freeze pensions above 1,260 euros. This means the money would not go up. People in the National Assembly said this was not possible.
A man named Thibault Bazin is a rapporteur. He studies the budget for social security. He said the government needs a new method.
Bazin has a new idea. He wants to let social partners decide. Social partners are unions and employers. They would choose how to save money.
The plan needs to save 1.3 billion euros. This money is for the social security budget.
Some people are worried. A retired person with 2,000 euros could lose more money. They could lose more than their old boss loses. This seems unfair to many people.
The government and the Assembly must now talk more. They need to find a fair plan together.
Vocabulary15 words
- freeze
- stop something from changing or growing
- rapporteur
- a person who studies a plan and gives a report
- budget
- a plan for spending money
- social partners
- unions and employers who talk about work rules
- pension
- money older people get after they stop working
- retired
- not working anymore because of age
- billion
- a very big number: 1,000 million
- social security
- government money help for people
- unfair
- not right or not equal
- alternative
- a different choice
- method
- a way of doing something
- decide
- to choose something
- patron
- a boss or employer
- save
- to keep money instead of spending it
- economy
- money and work in a country
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Pensions above 1,260 euros 2. Thibault Bazin 3. 1.3 billion euros
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The French government had a plan for _____. It wanted to _____ pensions above 1,260 euros. This means the money would not go up. People in the National _____ said this was not possible.
A man named Thibault Bazin is a _____. He studies the _____ for social security. He said the government needs a new method.
Bazin has a new idea. He wants to let _____ decide. Social partners are unions and employers. They would choose how to save money.
The plan needs to save _____ billion euros. This money is for the social security budget.
Some people are worried. A retired person with 2,000 euros could lose more money. They could lose more than their old _____ loses.
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