That will make the system clearer, fairer and better adapted to the modern labor market, Mr. Macron argues, because workers would be able to switch jobs without jumping between retirement programs and would receive points even for short periods of work that currently do not count toward pensions.

But Mr. Macron also wants to put the system on firmer financial footing. In 2018, it was facing a deficit of 2.9 billion euros, or about $3.2 billion, a figure that is projected to balloon to between €7.9 billion and €17.2 billion by 2025 if no action is taken.

There is no imminent threat of collapse, and Mr. Macron’s critics — and even some of his allies — say he should put budgetary concerns on the back burner to focus on setting up the universal system. But the government says it would be “irresponsible” to overhaul the system without getting its finances in order.

Mr. Macron wants to define a new age — separate from the legal age of retirement — that workers would have to reach to receive a full pension, with incentives and penalties encouraging people to work until then, if not longer. The government wants to set that limit, called the “pivot age” or “age of equilibrium,” at 64.

Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said last week that “we must, to preserve our pensions system, work a bit longer,” mainly because of increasing life expectancies.

“Do you think for one second that the French would believe me if I said: ‘Here are some new rights that are going to cost money, and I’m not going to tell you how to pay for them,’” Mr. Philippe told TF1, referring to promised measures like a guaranteed minimum pension of €1,000.

“To get their trust, one must say everything: the positives, and also the news that is a bit less popular,” he said.