Tens of thousands of striking French workers have begun to end their protests over the country's pension reforms. The reform bill, has been already approved by the upper house of parliament... and is set for a final vote... at the lower house.

 

French garbage collectors waded through mounds of reeking trash as they headed back to work and some oil workers have deserted their picket lines - signs of the fading momentum in the battle against raising the retirement age from 60 to 62.The French government has now declared that the massive protest movement has finally reached a "turning point".

In Marseilles, workers tackled some 9,000 tons of garbage that has piled up in the streets over the last two weeks of strikes.

Authorities said it would take up to five days before France's second-largest city starts smelling like itself again.

Meanwhile, workers at five of the country's 12 oil refineries have also voted to return to work.

The plants need a few days to fully resume operations.