Broken system? French protesters rage against austerity

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu pledged on Monday to increase the minimum wage by €24 a month from December 1, in an attempt to appease cost-of-living protesters. However, unions swiftly dismissed the offer as meager. Demonstrators in France's second-largest economy have been demanding higher wages in recent weeks, but the government faces limited capacity to respond as it strives to control high deficits and debt ahead of upcoming presidential elections.

Lecornu announced a 1.6% increase on December 1, which would account for an inflation adjustment of 1% and an extra boost of 0.6%. This would raise the minimum wage to approximately €1,502 net per month – a far cry from the €100 increase demanded by the CFDT and the €150 requested by the CGT. Both unions have deemed the proposed hike insufficient.

CFDT Secretary-General Marylise Leon called the hike "insufficient," while CGT leader Sophie Binet dismissed the extra five euros a month as "crumbs," likening it to the cost of one kilo of tomatoes.

France adjusts its minimum wage in line with inflation every January; the last discretionary boost occurred in 2012. Public sector unions have called for a strike and demonstrations on November 17.