France’s minimum wage will increase by 1.6% on December 1, bringing the net monthly total to 1 502 euros, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Monday, 9 November.
The adjustment raises the current monthly net pay from 1 477,93 euros, adding 24 euros to monthly earnings. This move is the first rollout in a series of government efforts to address social demonstrations that have persisted in the streets since mid-September, lexpress.fr reported.
Lecornu unveiled the wage adjustment following a social conference held at Matignon with private-sector employers and union representatives. The prime minister acknowledged that the measure offers only a partial remedy to worker demands.
La revalorisation du Smic ne suffit pas mais elle a un intérêt majeur, elle lance un cycle de discussions sur les augmentations de salaires,
Lecornu stated during a press conference alongside relevant ministers, according to lexpress.fr.
The administration aims to trigger momentum in ongoing wage negotiations across individual businesses and professional branches. Lecornu also committed to overhauling general social contribution exemptions.
Major labor organizations immediately dismissed the government’s announcement as inadequate. The CFDT had pressed for a net monthly increase of 100 euros, while the CGT demanded a 10% raise, amounting to roughly 150 euros.
Marylise Léon, general secretary of the CFDT, called the adjustment insufficient to spark a real shock wave in salary talks. Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, contended that the administration is handing out mere crumbs, lexpress.fr reported.
Binet said, according to lexpress.fr, characterizing the actual government boost as a mere five euros.
Labor organizations including the CGT, UNSA, FSU, Solidaires, CFE-CGC, and FAFP have scheduled a public service strike for 17 November to demand higher pay. Meanwhile, the executive branch faces a narrow path in Parliament without a clear majority for the 2027 finance bill.
Economy Minister Roland Lescure noted that officials will propose extending the fuel bonus into 2027 through budget amendments. Additional measures will target overtime caps and tax-free value-sharing bonuses.
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