French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Monday she regretted to see the damage brought by the strikes and demonstrations against the pension reform.

Students, private and public sector workers attend a demonstration over pension reform in Bordeaux, southwestern France, October 16, 2010. A nationwide strike that could hit various industries is planned for Tuesday, a day before the Senate is due to vote on a bill to make people work longer for their pensions. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
The economic damage from these protests and strikes against pension reform was estimated "between 200 and 400 million euros each day," the minister told local radio Europe 1.

"Moral detriment to France" caused by the strikes and demonstrations was also remarkable, she added.

Returning from South Korea where she attended the financial ministers meeting of the G20, Lagarde said she noticed that France's image was smudged in foreign media reports, which viewed France in social chaos.

"We are getting out of the (economic) crisis in quite good conditions and should not drag down the recovery with the movements that are painful for French economy, very painful for a certain number of parliaments members," the minister said.

The French Senate endorsed the retirement reform bill on Friday night amid massive protests nationwide. The bill is expected to be examined by a committee composed of seven senators and lower house lawmakers on Monday.

They will try to settle differences before returning the bill to both houses for a final vote at the end of this month.

However, the trade unions were determined to prevent President Nicolas Sarkozy from signing the bill with further strikes and demonstrations in the following two weeks.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet