French pharmaceutical pay inches up

Unions and employers in the French pharmaceutical industry have agreed a pay increase for the around 120,000 employees covered by the agreement. However, the staged 1.9% increase for 2011 is only just ahead of current inflation.

The agreement increases pay by 1.5% from 1 January this year and a further 0.4% from 1 July. It was ratified by three of the union confederations involved, CFDT, CFTC and CFE-CGC, on 18 February. However, two other national confederations, the CGT and FO, as well as a union which only organises in the industry, refused to sign.

The total increase is slightly ahead of inflation, which was 1.7% in February, and also means that pharmaceutical pay will go up by more than the minimum wage, which rose by 1.6% in January.

The increase takes the lowest point on the pay scale to €1,383.81 a month now and €1,389.85 in July. These figures are around €20 above the national minimum wage of €1,365 a month.

The two sides will look at pay again in the third quarter of 2011.