Politics · France · 1 hr ago
French minister considers raising net minimum wage above €1,500
On November 6, French Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou said he wants the net minimum wage to exceed €1,500 a month.
It currently stands at €1,477.93 a month.
The government is still negotiating with unions and employers over the minimum wage and other pay levels.
Unions want bigger increases, with the CGT seeking about €150 more a month and the CFDT asking for €100 more.
The government is considering bringing the next automatic increase forward from January 1, 2027, to December 1, and possibly adding an extra rise.
No increase has been decided, and Farandou is also urging industries to raise minimum pay rates and companies to restart wage talks.
Discussions are due to continue through Sunday, ahead of a social conference at the prime minister’s office three days after Farandou’s remarks.
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou said he considers it important to try to raise France’s net monthly minimum wage above €1,500.
The minimum wage is currently €1,477.93 net per month, according to BFM Business.
Farandou’s discussions with unions and employers are due to continue until Sunday ahead of a social conference at Matignon on Monday.
The government is considering bringing forward the automatic minimum-wage increase to 1 December, but no decision has been made.
Unions are seeking larger increases, including a €100 monthly rise demanded by the CFDT and a 10% rise sought by the CGT.
- Who
- Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou said he supports trying to raise the net minimum wage above €1,500.
- What
- The government is discussing a possible minimum-wage increase and related pay measures.
- When
- Farandou made the remarks on Friday, 6 November 2026; discussions are due to continue until Sunday, ahead of a conference on Monday.
- Where
- Farandou spoke on TF1. The social conference is to be held at Matignon in Paris.
- Why
- The government says it wants to address pay and purchasing-power concerns; unions have also called for wage increases.
Government
Unions
Minimum-wage increase
Government
Farandou said it was important to try to cross €1,500 net per month, while the government is considering bringing forward the automatic increase and possibly adding a further rise.
Unions
The CFDT is seeking an increase of €100 net per month, while the CGT is calling for a 10% rise, or nearly €150 net.
Scale and scope
Government
The government is seeking discussions towards a compromise on the minimum wage, sectoral minimums and company pay negotiations.
Unions
The unions are also seeking broader pay rises; the CGT wants wages indexed to inflation, and the CFDT wants negotiations in all sectors and a rise in public servants’ index point.
A day of strikes and demonstrations over wages and purchasing power took place; estimates of attendance ranged from 575,000 by the authorities to 1.6 million by the CGT.
Farandou said on TF1 that it was important to try to raise the minimum wage above €1,500 net per month.
Farandou is due to conclude consultations with unions and employers.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is due to hold a social conference with union and employer organisations at Matignon.
- Current net monthly minimum wage
- €1,477.93
- Target mentioned by Farandou
- Above €1,500 net per month
- CFDT demand
- €100 net more per month
- CGT demand
- 10% increase, or nearly €150 net more per month
- Possible date for automatic increase
- 1 December 2026, instead of 1 January 2027
3 sources
Smic : Jean-Pierre Farandou, le ministre du travail, juge « important » d’essayer de franchir la « barre des 1 500 euros net »
DIRECT. Mobilisation sociale : le ministre du Travail juge "important" d'essayer de relever le Smic au-delà de la "barre des 1 500 euros net"
"Essayer de franchir la barre des 1.500 euros net par mois": le ministre du Travail envisage une hausse du Smic net, mais reste loin des revendications des syndicats
What people are saying
Je trouve que le symbole est important
converger
Nous demandons une augmentation du SMIC de 100 euros net par mois.