The French government has agreed to give pay rises worth €8bn (£7.2bn; $9bn) to health workers, as it hailed their role in fighting coronavirus.
The deal was signed with trade unions on Monday after seven weeks of fraught negotiations.
Health workers have been revered as heroes during the pandemic with regular displays of public appreciation.
But they wanted more than recognition and have held protests to demand pay rises and better funding for hospitals.
Some demonstrators were fined for breaking social-distancing rules during the protests. France is one of Europe’s worst-hit countries.
I – Word Understanding
Hailed – praised / valued
Fraught – emotionally stressed
Revered – with honor and respect
II – Have Your Say
1, Frontliners, warriors, heroes – these are some of the honorary names dedicated to medical workers attending to Covid-19 patients. What is life like for medical workers in your country before and during this pandemic?
2, What has been done to show appreciation to them?
3, Prior to this agreement, protesters called for pay rises, and demanded reforms for better working conditions for healthcare workers. How effective do you think are protests and demonstrations in achieving certain demands?
754 Coronavirus: France’s health workers given pay rises worth €8bn
