The government announces an increase in the minimum wage of 1.6% to bring it to 1,502 euros from December 1

An increased minimum wage. Following a “social conference”, the government announced this Monday, November 9, an increase in the minimum wage of 1.6% on December 1. “When we do the calculations we will be at 1,502 euros,” detailed the Minister of Labor, Jean-Pierre Farandou. As of Friday, the latter had deemed it “important” to try to “cross the bar” of 1,500 euros net for the monthly minimum wage, currently 1,477.93 euros.

For several weeks, trade union organizations have been putting pressure on the government to give a boost to the minimum wage. “Today when we are on the full-time minimum wage, we cannot live with dignity from our work,” Marylise Léon insisted again last Thursday. The general secretary of the CFDT demanded an increase in the minimum wage of 100 euros net per month. It will ultimately only be 1.6%.

“There’s more than just the minimum wage in life”

The minimum wage was already increased last June by 2.41% (+35 euros net per month) to keep up with inflation which has started to rise again due to the war in the Middle East. In a context of accelerating price increases (+3.4% year-on-year in October), the government did not wait for November inflation figures to decide on an increase. It will be anticipated, because the mechanical increase in the minimum wage linked to the increase in prices usually occurs on January 1st.

It remains to be seen whether this early revaluation will be enough to calm the unions. “There’s more than just the minimum wage in life. (...) The idea is also to be able to negotiate across the entire scale because today we see that every time there is inflation, the minimum wage increases, but there is a downward trend (in wages),” warned CFDT boss Marylise Léon last Thursday.