Striking workers cut power to the Paris 2024 Olympic Village construction site during protests against a proposed increase in France's retirement age ©Getty Images

Striking electricians and gas workers have cut off electricity to the construction site of the Olympic Village in Saint-Denis during protest against the French Government's plans to raise the retirement age.

Mass protests have been held across France against the move by President Emmanuel Macron to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, which were approved by the conservative-dominated Senate by 201 votes to 115 earlier this week.

Further nationwide strikes have taken place this week, and industrial action has hit Paris 2024 venues.

The energy branch of the General Confederation of Labour reportedly cut power to the building site for the Olympic Village, with approximately 300 employees present for the action.

Gas and electricity supplies were cut to the site and data centres, according to the secretary general of the General Confederation of Labour's energy branch Sebastien Menesplier.

"Faced with a Government that refuses to budge, we too are refusing to budge," Menesplier said, as reported by French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"I appeal to the responsibility of the Government and the President of the Republic: withdraw your reform and the electricians and the gas workers will work for the public service and the general interest."

Protests have erupted across France in opposition to Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the retirement age ©Getty Images
Protests have erupted across France in opposition to Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the retirement age ©Getty Images

It was reported that power was also cut to another Paris 2024 venue in the Stade de France, but L'Équipe reported that a spokeswoman for electricity distribution network manager Enedis insisted "the power line that supplies the Stade de France has not been cut".

The spokeswoman conceded that commercial and residential premises in the vicinity of the 81,500-capacity venue had been subject to a power cut.

insidethegames has asked Solideo - the company responsible for Paris 2024 building works - for a comment.

Macron's pension plans also require majority support from the French National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, which could prove more difficult than in the Senate.

Government spokesman Olivier Veran criticised power cuts.

"We condemn calls to bring our economy to its knees because this is irresponsible," he was quoted by AFP.

"The only thing we want to bring to its knees is unemployment."

A further day of protest is expected tomorrow in France, and unions have called for another nationwide day of strikes on Wednesday (March 15).