About 600,000 join protests across France on Thursday
Unions put the turnout at 1.6 million, while teachers, universities and civil servants joined a strike over pay and living costs.
About 600,000 people joined demonstrations across France on Thursday, based on an initial estimate by the Interior Ministry, China's state news agency Xinhua reported.
The General Confederation of Labour, known as CGT, estimated that nearly 1.6 million people took part nationwide, including 350,000 in Paris, French television channel BFM TV reported.
The Ministry of National Education said 16 percent of teachers were on strike on Thursday.
By midday, nearly 33 percent of higher education institutions had been disrupted by the movement, affecting 60 of the country's 184 institutions, according to ministry figures.
The Ministry of Public Action and Accounts said nearly 10 percent of employees in the French state civil service joined the strike over salaries and purchasing power.
Transport services were generally maintained, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said in a post on social media platform X.
Tabarot added that at 2 p.m. local time, nine out of 10 high-speed TGV trains were running, along with about two-thirds of regional trains.
The latest mobilization follows several rounds of protests in France since September, which began with students demanding better educational conditions before spreading to other groups.
On Oct. 17, around 550,000 people took part in demonstrations across France, bringing together farmers, climate activists, trade unions and students.
Those earlier protests covered fuel prices, the cost of living, education and public services.