However, the priority for this union confederation remains employment and improving the status of workers in precarious employment. In some industries, employers are facing labour shortages. For their part, companies with a workforce of under 20 are concerned about the significant rise in the SMIC before they have moved to the 35-hour working week. In these two cases, employers' associations have spoken out against a looming increase in wage costs. Commentary The wage restraint and widening of disparities experienced by workers over the past 25 years continues, despite the return to a growth economy.
Employers have no intention of significantly increasing wages despite sizeable company profits.
The government has, in an attempt to redistribute purchasing power, decided to cut taxes, especially personal income tax and employee social security contributions for low-wage earners.