The French government announced on 9 November a 1.6% increase in the minimum wage from 1 December 2026. Caught between trade union demands and employers' warnings over labour costs, it is putting pressure on branch-level negotiations and promising an overhaul of social contribution relief.
The French national statutory minimum wage (Smic) will increase by 1.6% from 1 December. This rise is the main government announcement to come out of the social conference convened on 9 November following the inter-union day of strikes and demonstrations over purchasing power held on the 5th. It will raise the statutory net wage floor from €1,478 to €1,502 and consists of an automatic 1% increase under the statutory formula and an additional 0.6% by government decision.
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Article authors
Antoine Piel
Section Head at Mind HR