Social Conference, November 9: What measures do French people want to strengthen purchasing power?

This text corresponds to part of the transcription of the report above. Click on the video to watch it in full. At a market in Betton (Ille-et-Vilaine), near Rennes, shopping has become more and more expensive.

The meeting on purchasing power and wages announced Monday, November 9 in Matignon is essential for the people encountered in the morning. "For me, it should be natural to say: life is increasing, we're going to increase your salary too. But no, it's: life is increasing, well it's increasing, it's cool!

And for us, it's not cool", says a passer-by. Some already have a clear idea of ​​what they want. "100 euros more, I think that at the moment, and especially before the end of year holidays, that would indeed be a greatly appreciated gesture", slips a man.

The unions are demanding an increase in the minimum wage and an increase in income. The minimum wage is at the center of the debate. The unions are demanding a marked increase in the minimum wage, but also an increase in all incomes. Sébastien Alleaume is an IT developer.

He receives 2,200 euros per month, without increase for five years. But according to him, this meeting is not the solution to get out of the crisis. “For me, increasing everyone’s salaries in a standardized and homogeneous way will just create inflation.

If you double everyone's wages today and a packet of pasta is 1 euro, tomorrow it will be 2 euros. That's all that will change," he summarizes. For traders, like Sylvain Mandzira, roaster, the increase in wages is seen positively.

It should make it possible to revive consumption. “People will have more purchasing power, (...) so they will spend more.

And everyone will be there, both the State and us,” he believes. Without a major upgrade, many are already announcing that they want to continue their mobilization and take to the streets again on Tuesday.

Machine-translated from French