You are confused. The issue is not about working harder. The issue is with producing value.

I have yet to met a protester who can explain to me how burning cars and picketing is going to magically move down the median age of the population which is slowly but surely drifting towards 50. Considering most French also don’t want to rely on immigration (not that the country is attractive anyway), I guess they are either planning to force people to make kids at gunpoint or are strongly in denial.

Don’t hesitate to explain who is this mysterious "they" who are apparently responsible of everything wrong in the country.