# Debate on an early increase of the minimum wage in France > On the day after October 24, the president of Medef, Patrick Martin, ruled out the possibility of an early increase in the minimum wage and called for stronger security measures against the mobilisation. On October 24, the Minister of Economy, Roland Lescure, said that an increase in the minimum wage before the automatic revaluation in January was on the table, a possibility supported by the trade unions. On October 26, the minister's office received the trade unions and showed openness to an early revaluation on 1 December, while RN MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy considered a rise impossible at present. On 27 October, the Minister of Labour, Jean-Pierre Farandou, launched consultations with social partners, and the CGT called for a revaluation of the minimum wage. On 28 October, while 122 professional branches proposed pay scales starting below the minimum wage and Nathalie Arthaud criticised the idea of a €15 increase, Emmanuel Macron urged the branches concerned to negotiate, without taking a position on a revaluation. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 12 events nationwide, followed from 23 October 2026 to 28 October 2026. 26 articles from 18 sources (economy, politics); last updated on 28 October 2026 at 23:51. - Status: ongoing - Category: Economy, Politics - Place: Nationwide - First detected: 23 October 2026 at 21:31 - Updated: 28 October 2026 at 23:51 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/31-debate-on-an-early-increase-of-the-minimum-wage-in-france ## Reported figures - 1867 euros - 15 et 100 euros - 22 euros - 15 euros ## Coverage angles The three sides cover the same government process of early minimum wage revaluation, but the left approaches it from the perspective of social conflict and the amount deemed insufficient, the centre from the perspective of mechanisms and arbitrations, and the right from the perspective of labour costs and the perceived negative effects of a high minimum wage. **Common ground** - The government is studying an early revaluation of the minimum wage, envisaged for 1 December before the automatic increase in January. - The Minister of Labour, Jean-Pierre Farandou, is holding consultations with trade union and employers' organisations. - Employers, including Medef, express their opposition or reservations, citing the cost of labour. - 122 professional branches propose pay scales starting below the minimum wage. **Differences** - The left calls the envisaged amount (about 22 euros, 0.5%) derisory and calls for a strike, while the centre presents it as a 'boost' without contesting the amount and the right questions the very opportunity of a rise. - The right insists on the past progression of the minimum wage (+29% in ten years), its high level in the EU and a risk of 'smicardisation'; these arguments are not present in left and centre articles. - The left highlights Medef's call for stronger security measures in the face of mobilisation, an element absent from centre and right articles. - The actors cited differ: the right relays RN MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy considering a rise impossible, the left relays Nathalie Arthaud criticising a €15 increase. ## Timeline (12 events) ### 23 October 2026 — [Medef rejects anticipated minimum wage hike and calls for more repression](https://acturadar.com/en/events/342-medef-rejects-anticipated-minimum-wage-hike-and-calls-for-more-repression.md) On the eve of October 24, Medef president Patrick Martin rules out the hypothesis of an anticipated minimum wage hike and calls for reinforced security measures against the mobilization. 2 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 24 October 2026 — [SMIC: an anticipated increase before the January 1 revaluation under discussion](https://acturadar.com/en/events/193-smic-an-anticipated-increase-before-the-january-1-revaluation-under-discussion.md) Economy Minister Roland Lescure indicates that an increase in the SMIC before the automatic January revaluation is on the table. This option, supported by the unions, comes amid social unrest. 2 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 24 October 2026 — [A minimum wage increase before 1 January under discussion](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6-a-minimum-wage-increase-before-1-january-under-discussion.md) Economy Minister Roland Lescure mentions a possible early increase in the minimum wage before 1 January, as the government seeks answers to the purchasing power issue. 4 sources, 5 articles · Nationwide ### 26 October 2026 — [Tanguy juge impossible une hausse du Smic actuellement](https://acturadar.com/en/events/643-tanguy-juge-impossible-une-hausse-du-smic-actuellement.md) Le député RN Jean-Philippe Tanguy a estimé sur CNEWS qu'une augmentation du Smic n'était pas envisageable aujourd'hui. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 26 October 2026 — [Minimum wage: An anticipated increase considered for December 1](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1313-minimum-wage-an-anticipated-increase-considered-for-december-1.md) The minister's office has met with trade unions and is open to a boost to the minimum wage, with an anticipated increase on December 1. 7 sources, 8 articles · Nationwide ### 27 October 2026 — [Minimum wage: Labor Minister launches consultations to defuse crisis](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1533-minimum-wage-labor-minister-launches-consultations-to-defuse-crisis.md) Jean-Pierre Farandou consults social partners on the issue of an early minimum wage increase and labor costs, in a context of tensions over purchasing power. 2 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 27 October 2026 — [Analyse : le SMIC et les 35 heures pèseraient sur les classes moyennes](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1586-analyse-le-smic-et-les-35-heures-peseraient-sur-les-classes-moyennes.md) Une analyse soutient que la hausse du SMIC sans celle des salaires médians a tassé la hiérarchie des rémunérations et asphyxié les classes moyennes, vingt-cinq ans après les 35 heures. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 27 October 2026 — [Le Smic a bondi de 29 % en dix ans, au risque d'une smicardisation](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1971-le-smic-a-bondi-de-29-en-dix-ans-au-risque-d-une-smicardisation.md) Alors que le gouvernement envisage un nouveau coup de pouce au salaire minimum, une analyse souligne que le Smic a progressé nettement plus vite que le salaire médian en dix ans. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 27 October 2026 — [La CGT réclame une revalorisation du SMIC](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2778-la-cgt-reclame-une-revalorisation-du-smic.md) La CGT appelle les grands patrons à cesser leurs « attitudes cupides » et réclame une revalorisation du SMIC, dans un contexte de tensions après les manifestations. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 28 October 2026 — [Nathalie Arthaud juge « provocation » une hausse du Smic de 15 euros](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2822-nathalie-arthaud-juge-provocation-une-hausse-du-smic-de-15-euros.md) La candidate dénonce comme une provocation l'hypothèse d'une revalorisation du Smic limitée à 15 euros, dans le débat sur une hausse anticipée. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 28 October 2026 — [122 branches professionnelles proposent des grilles de salaire démarrant sous le Smic](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3119-122-branches-professionnelles-proposent-des-grilles-de-salaire-demarrant-sous.md) Des branches professionnelles proposent des grilles de rémunération dont le premier niveau est inférieur au Smic, ce qui suscite la controverse dans le contexte du débat sur la revalorisation du Smic. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 28 October 2026 — [Macron exhorte les branches rémunérant sous le Smic à négocier](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3411-macron-exhorte-les-branches-remunerant-sous-le-smic-a-negocier.md) Interrogé par Hugo Décrypte, Emmanuel Macron a appelé les branches professionnelles dont les minima sont inférieurs au Smic à reprendre les négociations salariales, sans se prononcer sur une revalorisation. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide --- Cite as: Acturadar, “Debate on an early increase of the minimum wage in France”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/31-debate-on-an-early-increase-of-the-minimum-wage-in-france Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology