Politics · France · 10 hrs ago
CFTC leader says raising France's minimum wage to €1,500 is not enough
CFTC leader Cyril Chabanier wants a bigger minimum-wage rise in France than the government has discussed.
The monthly minimum wage is currently €1,478 net, and Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou has said he wants to try to take it above €1,500.
Chabanier says that increase of about €22 would not be enough, although he considers any increase helpful.
The CFTC is calling for a 2% rise, which Chabanier says would add about €30 net a month.
He argues that higher living costs make a larger increase important for workers struggling to pay for fuel and food.
He also wants pay talks across industries, because some wage scales have not been updated for 10 years.
Chabanier expects the government to set out measures, including rapid industry-level negotiations starting next week.
Cyril Chabanier, president of the CFTC union, said raising France’s net monthly minimum wage to €1,500 would not be enough.
He called for a 2% increase, which he said would add about €30 net or €40 gross per month.
The minimum wage is currently €1,478 net per month.
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou has said it is important to try to pass the €1,500 net threshold.
Chabanier also called for sector-level wage negotiations and other measures.
- Who
- Cyril Chabanier, president of the CFTC, called for a larger minimum-wage increase.
- What
- He said raising the net monthly minimum wage to €1,500 would not be enough and called for a 2% increase.
- When
- On 9 November 2026, before a social conference.
- Where
- On franceinfo in France.
- Why
- He said a €22 increase would not meet workers’ needs amid difficulties paying for fuel and groceries.
Cyril Chabanier and the CFTC
Jean-Pierre Farandou and the government
Minimum-wage increase
Cyril Chabanier and the CFTC
Chabanier said reaching €1,500 net was not enough and called for a 2% increase.
Jean-Pierre Farandou and the government
Farandou said it was important to try to pass the €1,500 net threshold.
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou said it was important to try to pass the €1,500 net threshold.
Cyril Chabanier called for a 2% minimum-wage increase before attending a social conference.
Chabanier called for rapid negotiations in sectors.
The minimum wage was due to rise automatically by 1%, according to Chabanier.
- Current minimum wage
- €1,478 net per month
- Proposed threshold
- €1,500 net per month
- CFTC demand
- 2% increase
- Estimated net monthly gain sought
- About €30
- Estimated gross monthly gain sought
- About €40
- Requested additional measure
- Sector-level wage negotiations
What people are saying
Increasing the minimum wage to 1,500 euros is not enough
given how difficult it is for French people to fill up their tanks or fill their fridges
any boost is good to take
There also need to be sector-level negotiations