French Premier Sebastien Lecornu aims to address widespread social unrest by boosting the minimum wage (Smic) during a conference with labor unions and students. The move comes as protests continue, with demands for higher wages and government accountability. The PM promises concrete responses but faces limited leeway in addressing broader wage issues.
Lecornu will meet with labor unions in the morning and students in the afternoon, focusing on reforms to the Parcoursup orientation system. A letter to unions and employers highlights the need to balance concerns about purchasing power with employer worries over employment. The PM will present these responses to the media after the conference, but the government's ability to influence broader wage increases is constrained.
Critics warn that isolating responses to different groups risks prolonging the social movement. Unsa's Laurent Escure cautions that the PM's segmented approach could deepen the crisis. Meanwhile, the U2P's Michel Picon stresses that raising the Smic requires reducing business taxes, a condition the government has not yet met. Protests continue, with calls for further demonstrations and concerns over the government's financial constraints.
The government faces a tight margin in addressing the crisis, with limited resources and a weakened majority. The Smic is set to rise automatically in December, but unions demand a significant increase. The PM's focus on the Smic is seen as insufficient, with critics arguing that the government must address broader wage issues to quell the ongoing unrest.