Bar of 1,500 euros, 10% increase, 100 euros more… What are the government and union proposals on the minimum wage?

Soon a “boost” on pay slips? The inter-union organization behind the day of demonstrations on Thursday November 5 will demand an increase in the minimum wage during the social conference organized Monday November 9 by the Prime Minister in Matignon. But between unions, employers and government, demands and concessions on the subject differ.

The minimum wage, which corresponds to the legal minimum hourly wage below which the employee cannot be paid, is currently set at 12.31 euros gross per hour (9.74 euros net), or 1,867.02 euros gross per month for an employee working 35 hours per week (1,477.93 euros net). Every January 1, it is automatically revalued based, in particular, on inflation excluding tobacco observed for the poorest 20% of households. On this basis, it was increased by 1.18% from January 1, 2026.

Salary scales criticized

An automatic increase also applies during the year if inflation exceeds 2%. This was the case on June 1 (+2.41%), due in particular to the sharp rise in energy prices. Beyond mechanical increases, the government can therefore give "a boost" to the minimum wage, which has not been the case since July 2012, after the arrival of François Hollande at the Elysée, to the tune of 0.6%.

The main unions want an increase greater than the automatic revaluation. The CFDT is asking for an increase of 100 euros net per month, while the CGT is demanding 10% more, or around 150 euros net. At Force Ouvrière, "we are asking for a minimum wage at 80% of the median salary, or 2,000 euros," said their general secretary, Frédéric Souillot, on the organization's website. Finally, the CFTC also expects "an increase in the minimum wage in advance and beyond inflation", explained its president, Cyril Chabanier, invited on franceinfo on Thursday.

The unions also demand that the salary scales of professional branches no longer include any level below the minimum wage, and that companies where this situation is observed be financially sanctioned. If the workers concerned receive the minimum wage in all cases, these scales cause a flattening of remuneration, with employees being able to progress up the salary scale while remaining "stuck" to the minimum wage for many years.

Employers demand reduction in contributions

On the government side, the Minister of Labor, Jean-Pierre Farandou, considered it "important", Friday on TF1, to try to "cross the bar" of 1,500 euros net for the monthly minimum wage. This corresponds to an increase of around 1.5% (22.07 euros net per month), well below the demands of the unions.

Employer organizations are calling for a reduction in employer contributions to be able to cope with a potential increase in the minimum wage. “For the moment, we have no concrete opening on reductions in charges, which would allow businesses to breathe new life into meeting demands for salary increases in the short term,” Medef told AFP on Friday. The government has three days left to try to find a compromise before Monday's meeting. The inter-union will decide on the follow-up to the mobilization at its end.