France will raise its national minimum wage by 1.6% from 1 December 2026, a month earlier than planned, but unions say the increase falls short of what workers need and are calling for further action.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government announced the measure on Monday 9 November after talks with employers and trade unions at Matignon, against a backdrop of demonstrations over household costs, pay and public services.
How much will France’s minimum wage increase?
The monthly net minimum wage, known as the SMIC, is expected to rise from approximately €1,478 to €1,502 for a full-time worker, an increase of about €24 per month. The 1.6% rise consists of an approximately 1% inflation-related adjustment and a further 0.6% discretionary increase. The usual annual adjustment had been due on 1 January 2027; the government has brought it forward to 1 December.
The announcement is a government decision, not a rate already in force. A decree implementing the new minimum wage is expected.
Why are unions dissatisfied?
The CFDT had sought a €100 monthly increase, while the CGT demanded a 10% rise, equivalent to roughly €150. Both exceed the €24 increase announced. CGT leader Sophie Binet criticised the package as insufficient and called for renewed mobilisation on 17 November. The date also features in calls for public-sector industrial action over pay.
Unions argue that wage growth has not kept pace with the pressure on household budgets. The government says the minimum-wage decision should open wider negotiations over pay in individual industries.
What else has the government announced?
The administration also outlined plans to encourage sector-by-sector wage negotiations and review employer contribution relief. Other measures discussed include tax treatment of overtime and employee bonuses. These should not be confused with measures already in force: some require further regulatory or legislative steps.
What happens next?
Attention now turns to the implementing decree, negotiations between employers and unions and the planned demonstrations on 17 November. Whether the wage announcement changes the scale of the protests remains to be seen.
