With a final Senate vote on the bill drawing near, the country's six main unions signaled their determination to fight on even after the passage of the legislation, calling a seventh and eighth day of protests for October 28 and November 6.

"The government bears full and total responsibility for the further protests in light of its intransigent attitude, failure to listen and repeated provocations," the unions said in a joint statement, after a day of negotiations in Paris.

Earlier on Thursday, President Nicolas Sarkozy's government said it would use a special measure to speed the reform bill's passage through the Senate with a final vote expected on Friday.

Sarkozy, who is determined to face down unions and force through an increase in the retirement age, is battling 10-day-old refinery strikes and fuel depot blockades that have dried up nearly a quarter of France's fuel pumps.

Reuters