Increase in the minimum wage: crossing the “net 1,500 euro mark” is “important” for the Minister of Labor

Will the government give unions a boost on the minimum wage? The Minister of Labor Jean-Pierre Farandou considered it “important” to try to “cross the bar” of 1,500 euros net for the monthly minimum wage, currently 1,477.93 euros, on TF1 this Friday, November 6. The unions are demanding between 100 and 150 euros net more. He also said he was in favor of a revaluation from December 1st. “I find that the symbol is important, it shows that we are taking action,” he explained. If necessary, the decision should be taken next week to be implemented on time.

The Minister of Labor also wants to “act quickly on negotiations in the branches”, while successive increases in the minimum wage have caught up with salaries at the bottom of the scales. A pious wish formulated by the government for several years, without any effect. But this time, “we are ready to act,” promises Jean-Pierre Farandou. “We have a decree which is ready, and which would strongly encourage the branches to raise their minimums”, under penalty of seeing their costs increase.

After several weeks of mobilization, the unions must participate on Monday in a “social conference” convened by the Prime Minister in Matignon. Jean-Pierre Farandou clarified that his discussions with the unions and employers were still ongoing until Sunday and that his objective was to “converge” to reach a compromise on the minimum wage, branch minimums and salary negotiations in companies.