French PM brings forward minimum wage rise to December as unions call the offer 'crumbs'

In brief

• French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu brought forward a planned 1.6% minimum wage rise from January to December.
• The move followed talks with unions and employers on wages and purchasing power amid weeks of cost-of-living protests.
• Unions dismissed the concession as far too small and called for further demonstrations.

Talks with unions and employers

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met union leaders and employer representatives in Paris on Monday to discuss wages and purchasing power (French PM holds 'social conference': just 'an exercise in PR'? – France 24). The talks followed a wave of social unrest that has included strikes and, at times, violent protests. The government has been constrained by an ongoing budget crisis, which has limited its room to manoeuvre.

The concession

After the meeting, Lecornu said the minimum wage rise of 1.6% would take effect in December rather than January (French PM brings forward hike in minimum wage to calm protesters – France 24) (France brings forward minimum wage increase in bid to quell unrest – France 24) (French PM brings forward 1.6% increase in minimum wage in bid to calm protests – France 24). He presented the move as a way to ease the pressure of rising living costs, which has driven some of the most serious civil disorder France has seen in years.

Union response

Unions rejected the offer quickly. They described it as "crumbs" and said it fell well short of their demands. Several organisations have called for new protests in the coming days.

Background to the unrest

The demonstrations began over underfunded schools before broadening into wider protests about living costs. Riots in several major cities on October 17 marked a sharp escalation. Commentators have questioned whether Monday's meeting can do more than offer public reassurance while the budget remains tight.