Why should we expect an increase in the minimum wage?

Soaring inflation leaves less and less doubt about an imminent increase in the minimum wage.

confirmed Bruno Le Maire on Monday, guest of BFM.

If this increase were to take place, it would be at least 31 euros for the gross monthly minimum wage which is currently 1,555 euros.

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Legally, three cases can lead to an increase in the minimum wage. First, the minimum wage is revised every year on January 1 on the basis of half of the purchasing power gain of the average hourly wage of workers and employees. On January 1, 2021, it had increased by 0.99%, the smallest increase in 3 years.

Apart from this annual meeting, the minimum wage may also be subject to an automatic adjustment in the same proportions as inflation when the latter exceeds the threshold of 2% compared to the date of establishment of the last amount of the minimum wage, ie November 2020. This is precisely the mechanism mentioned by Bruno Le Maire. In July, prices reached a growth of 1.62% in July compared to the same date. The 2% threshold could therefore be exceeded in August; INSEE will publish its figures in mid-September. The increase in the minimum wage would then come into force on October 1.

Last case, the government can proceed at any time to a “

” increase in the minimum wage in order to help households in greatest difficulty. This mechanism was used for the last time in 2012. Honoring one of the promises made by François Hollande during his presidential campaign, the Ayrault government had decided to increase the minimum wage by 0.6% in addition to an early revaluation of the following January 1 . But for Bruno Le Maire, there is no question of adding to the increase due to inflation an additional increase in the minimum wage. "

" warned the Minister of the Economy and Finance on BFM.