PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday a 鈧�100 ($113) per month increase in the minimum wage from next year in a major concession to 鈥測ellow vest鈥� protesters who have roiled the country.
The minimum wage was set at 鈧�1,498 per month pre-tax in 2018 and 鈧�1,185 after tax.
Macron also rolled back on an unpopular increase in taxes on pensioners which was introduced by his government.
In an address to the nation, the 40-year-old former investment banker also struck a more humble tone than usual as he sought to address criticism of his style of leadership.
鈥淚 know that I have hurt some of you with my statements,鈥� he said.
He stressed, however, that the protests by mostly low-income people in small town or rural France were the result of long-term problems.
鈥淭heir distress doesn鈥檛 date from yesterday. We have ended up getting used to it,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hese are forty years of malaise that have come to the surface,鈥� he added.