France raises minimum wage by 1.6% from 1 December, government says

French workers on the minimum wage will get a 1.6% rise from 1 December, the government said on Monday, earlier than the usual January date.

The decision was presented after a social conference at Matignon, organised by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, with union and employer representatives present. Jean-Pierre Farandou, minister of Labour and Solidarities, said the measure at a press conference, ObservAlgerie reported.

"We will bring forward the rise in the minimum wage to 1 December, with an increase of 1.6%," Farandou said.

The government chose to move up the revaluation, which is normally due on 1 January. For a full-time worker on 35 hours a week, the net monthly minimum wage should reach about 1,502 euros, up from 1,477.93 euros now.

The rise would add about 24 euros net a month, or about 288 euros over twelve months, if pay and contributions stay the same. The final amount may vary slightly with the contributions that apply to each worker.

Part-time workers will also get the higher hourly minimum, depending on the hours they work. The rise does not automatically raise pay that is already above the minimum wage, which depends on collective agreements and company deals.

The increase applies to employees on the legal minimum in France, whatever their nationality. Algerian nationals working in the country can also benefit if they meet the conditions that apply.

The minimum wage already rose by 2.41% on 1 June, when the gross monthly figure reached 1,867.02 euros. Across 2026 the rises total 5.3%, about 75 euros net a month more than at the start of the year, the minister said.

Marylise Léon, general secretary of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT), had asked for a rise of 100 euros net a month in the minimum wage.

The government also wants to encourage pay talks in each sector. Farandou said a committee to monitor wages will be created soon.