Minimum wage increase could come early as France braces for protests

The signs are all there at recent protests. Banners calling for higher wages and increases in purchasing power. One potential response from the government, a hike in the minimum wage. In France, it currently sits at just under 1,500 euros per month. The minister for small and medium-sized enterprises says they're talking with unions. Purchasing power comes from salaries. There are ongoing discussions with the minister of labour as well as with the trade unions and employer organizations too. Originally, the minimum wage was set to increase around 1% in January to keep up with inflation. Now, the change could come as soon as December, with an extra 0.5% boost, which would come out to an increase of around 22 euros per month. An employee at this sign company tells France 2 the increase would help her with the cost of living. But the boss has done the math. The change would cost him 3,000 euros per year. If the freeze on social charges ends and the minimum wage goes up, it will be a double hit. Some government officials see this as a possible way to ease tensions. More demonstrations are planned for this and next Saturday. Unions are demanding a minimum increase of 100 euros per month.