# Debate on an early Smic increase in France > On October 23, 2026, Medef president Patrick Martin ruled out an early Smic increase and called for reinforced security measures in the face of social mobilization. The next day, Economy Minister Roland Lescure indicated that an increase before January 1 is on the table, a track supported by unions. On October 26, the Labor Minister's office received union organizations and showed openness to an anticipated boost on December 1, before Jean-Pierre Farandou launched consultations with social partners on October 27. The CGT then called for an increase, while Emmanuel Macron urged, on October 28, professional branches whose minima are below the Smic to resume wage negotiations. On October 29, the Labor Minister judged the increase "not taboo" without showing a firm conviction, while La France insoumise defended a Smic increase during its parliamentary niche. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 14 events nationwide, followed from 23 October 2026 to 29 October 2026. 35 articles from 19 sources (economy, politics); last updated on 29 October 2026 at 10:40. - Status: ongoing - Category: Economy, Politics - Place: Nationwide - First detected: 23 October 2026 at 21:31 - Updated: 29 October 2026 at 10:40 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/31-debate-on-an-early-smic-increase-in-france ## Reported figures - 1867 euros - 15 et 100 euros - 22 euros - 15 euros - 100 euros ## Coverage angles The three sides relay the government discussion on an early Smic increase, but with different angles: the left emphasizes the insufficiency of the amount and the balance of power, the center on the calendar and consultations, the right on labor costs and Smic effects. **Common ground** - The government is examining an early Smic increase, before the scheduled January 1 date, with a December deadline mentioned. - Employers express reservations or opposition to this increase. - The union demand for an increase and the purchasing power issue are at the center of the debate. **Differences** - The left describes the envisaged amount as "pittance" and denounces the "radicalization of employers"; the center and right mainly present the calendar, mechanisms and employer reservations. - The right emphasizes labor costs, the risk of "smicardisation" and job destruction; the left highlights record profits and the need for mobilization, including a general strike. - The right cites Jean-Philippe Tanguy (RN) judging a Smic increase impossible, while the center and left relay the existence of an early increase under study. - The center highlights the 122 professional branches whose scales start below the Smic; the right evokes Macron's call to negotiate in these branches, an angle absent from the provided left-wing articles. ## Timeline (14 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 — [Smic: the Labor Minister launches consultations to defuse the crisis](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1533-smic-the-labor-minister-launches-consultations-to-defuse-the-crisis.md) Jean-Pierre Farandou consults social partners on the question of an early revaluation of the Smic and labor costs, in a context of tensions over purchasing power. 3 sources, 3 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 urges wage-paying branches below the minimum wage to negotiate](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3411-macron-urges-wage-paying-branches-below-the-minimum-wage-to-negotiate.md) Interviewed by Hugo Décrypte, Emmanuel Macron called on professional branches whose minimum wages are below the minimum wage to resume salary negotiations, without taking a position on an increase. 2 sources, 3 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [LFI parliamentary niche: increase of the minimum wage and pesticides on the Assembly's agenda](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3500-lfi-parliamentary-niche-increase-of-the-minimum-wage-and-pesticides-on-the.md) During its parliamentary initiative day, La France insoumise advocates in particular a rise in the minimum wage and the ban on acetamipride. 2 sources, 3 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [Minimum wage: Labour Minister says increase is 'not taboo'](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3614-minimum-wage-labour-minister-says-increase-is-not-taboo.md) Jean-Pierre Farandou, Minister of Labour, in an interview with France Inter, stated that increasing the minimum wage is 'not taboo' while saying he has 'no conviction' on the matter at this stage. The unions are calling for an early boost. 3 sources, 3 articles · Nationwide --- Cite as: Acturadar, “Debate on an early Smic increase in France”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/31-debate-on-an-early-smic-increase-in-france Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology