France accelerates minimum wage hike in bid to quell protest
Summary
France will raise its minimum wage by 1.6% starting December 1, 2026, one month earlier than planned. The government announced the change amid weeks of protests over living costs and other issues, while unions said the increase does not meet their demands.Key Facts
- Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the earlier increase on Monday.
- The minimum wage will rise from 1,477.93 euros per month to about 1,502 euros, an increase of 24 euros.
- The increase was originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
- The government said it planned the increase to avoid causing job losses.
- The protests began with student calls for greater investment in schools and broadened into demonstrations over living costs.
- The CFDT union called for a 100-euro increase, while the CGT union demanded a 10% rise.
- CFDT leader Marylise Leon called the increase insufficient, and CGT leader Sophie Binet described it as crumbs.
- The government faces mounting social tensions five months before France's presidential election.
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