‘Social conference’

Last month’s “social conference” in France, bringing together unions, employers and the government to discuss the problem of low pay, brought only limited results, according to union participants.

Prime minister Élisabeth Borne pointed to the creation of a high commission on pay and action to tackle employers whose minimum rates were below the national minimum wage.

But Marylise Léon, general secretary of the largest union confederation, the CFDT, said although the conference had been “useful”, it lacked ambition.

And Sophie Binet, general secretary of the second largest, the CGT, said it had been “disappointing” and had “led to nothing.”