French trade unions are joining forces on Thursday for nationwide strikes and demonstrations for higher wages and in support of the high school protest movement, piling new pressure on the beleaguered government.

After more than a month of regular and large protests across France, major rallies are again planned in Paris, Lyon and Marseille, with hundreds of thousands of people likely to turn out.

Unions said that around 260 rallies against rising living costs were to take place across the country.