The key facts
- The French government will raise the minimum wage by 1.6% from December 1 — to about 1,502 euros per month after deductions
- The CGT called the increase «crumbs» and called for a strike on November 17; the public sector is also ready to strike
- CFDT head Marylise Léon acknowledged the early indexation as positive but insufficient
November 17 strike: unions reject the minimum wage increase
A new wave of mass strikes and demonstrations is brewing in France, despite the government's promise to raise the minimum wage. The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) has called on citizens to take to the streets in protest on November 17, deeming the measures proposed by the authorities insufficient — Public Sénat reports (summarized by Life.ru). The reason was the government's decision to raise the minimum wage by 1.6% as early as December 1: after indexation, those earning the minimum wage will receive about 1,502 euros per month after taxes and contributions.
«Five euros is a kilogram of tomatoes»
CGT General Secretary Sophie Binet called the authorities' proposals «crumbs». According to her, the minimum wage would in any case have automatically risen by about 18 euros from January 2027, so the additional increase initiated by the government will amount to only about five euros. «Five euros is a kilogram of tomatoes», Binet said, commenting on the outcome of negotiations with the government. She called on workers, pensioners and young people to join the action on November 17; on that day, public sector employees also intend to strike demanding higher wages. According to Binet, the protest movement will not stop until the authorities offer solutions that meet citizens' demands.
The CFDT's position and the government's response
Discontent was also expressed by Marylise Léon, head of the other major trade union confederation, the CFDT: she acknowledged that the early indexation was a positive step, but stressed that the 1.6% increase does not meet workers' expectations. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government hopes to ease tensions: in addition to raising the minimum wage, measures to support purchasing power have been proposed, including maintaining the increased fuel payment allowance. The unions, however, continue to demand a more substantial rise in incomes and a revision of social policy.
Context: Macron's evacuation plan
Earlier, Life.ru, citing the authors of the book «The New Shadow Army», reported that France has prepared an emergency evacuation plan for President Emmanuel Macron in case protesters storm the Élysée Palace: the leader could be taken to a secret shelter outside Paris, and preparation of the scenario, according to the authors, began after the «yellow vest» protests in 2018. Against the backdrop of the new wave of demonstrations, the authorities are also considering the risks of riots, sabotage and cyberattacks ahead of the 2027 presidential election. This information is cited from the book and has not been officially confirmed.
