Boost for the minimum wage: “It’s not a taboo” for the Minister of Labor who “has no conviction” on the issue at this stage

A boost to the minimum wage, which must already increase mechanically with inflation of 1% on January 1, "is not a taboo" for Jean-Pierre Farandou, Minister of Labor and Solidarity, invited Thursday October 29 on France Inter. However, he acknowledges “that at this stage”, he “does not have any conviction” on the question. This boost is demanded by the unions, but feared by employers' organizations.

“I am perfectly aware that for French employees at the moment, it is difficult, that the ends of the month are complicated”, particularly with the increase in fuel prices, recognizes the minister. However, “it’s also difficult for businesses elsewhere too, which are going through a complicated economic period.” He therefore seeks "the best possible balance" to "resolve this complicated equation".

The exceptional boost to the minimum wage, demanded by several workers' unions, is therefore "not taboo" but the question is not resolved. The subject “was raised” during the meetings, he confirms. However, he does not commit, like the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Serge Papin, who has a helping hand from December.

“I let Serge Papin make his announcements, he has the right to do so, but I say that there are balances to be found.

Machine-translated from French