Europe 1 with AFP 09:14, December 16, 2021
How much will the minimum wage increase on January 1?
If the committee of experts foresees a rise of 0.9% to compensate for inflation, the executive affirms that it will not grant additional "boost".
In one year, the minimum wage "will have increased by 3.1% to settle at 1,603 euros gross monthly", declared the Minister of Labor, Elisabeth Borne.
The government will "not give a boost" to the minimum wage beyond the automatic 0.9% increase planned for January to offset inflation, Labor Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Thursday.
"We are not going to give a boost, I confirm it to you", declared Mrs. Borne on CNews, stressing that in one year, the minimum wage "will have increased by 3.1% to settle at 1,603 euros gross monthly , or "48 euros more per month".
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"We have a system that is unique in the world, which is very protective for employees at minimum wage since it provides for an automatic adjustment taking inflation into account," she said.
The minister defended "the choice, since the start of the five-year term, to increase purchasing power by increasing the activity bonus (and) by removing certain contributions, to increase income without weighing on the cost of labor, this which can destroy jobs ".
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"This is what leads us to follow (the) economists specializing in minimum wage, who do not recommend a boost," she added.
Ms. Borne however promised to "continue to put pressure on the professional sectors which have a certain number of levels in their salary scales which are below the minimum wage", citing as an example hotels, cafes and restaurants which employ "more than 800,000 employees".
A "negotiation meeting" in this sector is scheduled for Thursday afternoon and the minister "is counting on the employers' organizations to find an agreement with the trade unions".