France minimum wage increase, Digi Mart USA News (Paris, France): To try to calm social anger, the French government announced on Monday, November 9, following a social conference at Matignon, a 1.6 percent increase in the minimum wage (SMIC) effective December 1. The foreign press converts the amount into loaves of bread and concludes that it will probably not be enough to calm social anger.
The increase amounts to a boost of 0.6 percent. Under pressure from protesters but without financial room to maneuver, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu attempted on November 9 to respond to social anger.
The government said the minimum wage will rise 1.6 percent on December 1 following a social conference with social partners at Matignon. This figure includes a mechanical adjustment of about 1 percent to keep pace with inflation and a 0.6 percent boost, the first since François Hollande took office in 2012.
The net SMIC will reach 1,502 euros, a difference of about 24 euros from the current amount. “Or, to express it in a currency the French like to use in this kind of case: the SMIC will rise by about 20 baguettes,” wrote the Süddeutsche Zeitung in Munich.
In any case, this is far from the unions’ demands, which found the measure insufficient. The CFDT had called for a 100 euro increase, and the CGT for about 150 euros.
“The pressure was great but the possibilities very limited,” the Bavarian daily noted. Sophie Binet, head of the CGT, denounced the measure as “crumbs.” A new call to mobilize has been issued.
At the close of the meeting, the Prime Minister acknowledged that he could not satisfy everyone. The source article is partially paywalled and the remainder of his remarks is not available in the supplied text.
