France minimum wage increase 1.6% December 2026, Digi Mart USA News (France): Patrick Martin, president of the French employers’ federation Medef, said on franceinfo on Monday, November 9, that the government is “giving a wrong answer to a real problem” after announcing a 1.6% increase in the minimum wage, the SMIC, effective December 1.
Martin noted that there have been three increases to the minimum wage in 2026 and said that “no one talks anymore about employment, investment and growth,” which he considers the “real answer” to the loss of purchasing power experienced by French workers.
He argued that meeting legitimate expectations on purchasing power requires creating jobs “where jobs are being destroyed,” and growth “where we are close to recession.” He also said investment must increase, noting that investment fell sharply in the last quarter in France.
Asked about raising wages to stimulate growth, Martin said companies must first have the means to do so. He warned that with higher payroll costs, many firms in sectors with high labor intensity and limited margins would fall into losses.
Following a social conference at Matignon, the prime minister’s office, on Monday between social partners, Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou announced the 1.6% increase. He said the calculation brings the minimum wage above 1,500 euros, to 1,502 euros net per month.
