From raising the minimum wage to boosting electric cars, making composting mandatory and helping cover the cost of repairing household appliances, the French government is introducing several policies from 1 January 2024 that it says will make France fairer, greener and better off. But with inflation still running high, not every change will be welcome.
Inflation in France has been easing since its record spike in early 2023, but it remains higher than it has been for most of the past decade.
For wages and benefits pegged to inflation, that means an increase too.
■ Higher minimum wage, pension boost
France's minimum wage, which is automatically adjusted each January according to inflation, is increasing this year from €11.52 per hour before tax to €11.65, a rise of 1.13 percent.
Those in full-time employment will receive an extra €19.72 a month, bringing their salary to €1,766.92.
State pensions have also been revalued to keep up with inflation, with a 5.3 percent increase.
■ Income tax adjusted
Indexed to inflation, the scale that determines income tax rate is being adjusted: each earnings bracket will be increased by 4.8 percent.
■ More money for interns
People completing an internship will receive 30 cents per hour more from January. The government has raised the statutory minimum pay for interns from €4.05 an hour to €4.35.
■ Meal vouchers valid for groceries
Food is one of the categories where inflation is at its highest in France. To help workers cover their bills, the government is extending a scheme that allows employees to spend their "restaurant tickets" – vouchers offered by employers to cover the cost of lunch on work days – on groceries, and not just meals out or ready-made snacks.
It was supposed to end in December 2023, but has been rolled over until the end of 2024.
Price hikes
High inflation also means higher prices, and 2024 will see costs keeping up.
■ Post
Sending a letter will become around 8.3 percent more expensive on average as the French postal service raises the price of stamps. From January, a standard "green stamp" for regular domestic mail goes from €1.16 to €1.29.
La Poste says the changes reflect inflation and falling demand for physical mail.
■ Cigarettes
Smokers will find themselves paying as much as €12 for a packet of cigarettes after an increase in the price of tobacco products, which is regulated by the government and pegged to inflation.
The exact amount varies depending on the product and where it was made, but between 40 cents and €1 has been added to a 20-pack of cigarettes.
■ Paris public transport
Commuters in the Paris region face a higher bill for public transport: a monthly Navigo pass costs €2.30 more from January, hitting €86.40.
It is a smaller increase than January 2023, when the price jumped by nearly €9 a month, thanks to an agreement between the government and the regional transport company that caps price increases for regular passengers for the next several years.
Employment agency rebranded
France's national employment agency shall henceforth be known as France travail (France work) instead of Pôle emploi (Employment centre).
More than just a name change, the government says the new service will facilitate coordination between different bodies and provide a single point of contact for anyone looking for work or experiencing difficulty finding a job.
Going green
France's government insists that eco-friendly policies are a priority. This year sees it introduce several policies designed to nudge individuals – not industry – towards greener habits.
■ 'Repair bonus' extended
Launched in 2022, France's "repair bonus" allows consumers to get a discount on the cost of getting household appliances fixed instead of replacing them. This year another 24 products are being added to the list of eligible appliances, including microwaves, hairdryers and printers.
People can also claim for accidental breakages – including smashed smartphone screens – for the first time.
The sum is rising too: it now ranges from €15 for a kettle or toaster up to €60 for a TV.
■ Mandatory compost bins
From January, food and garden waste is no longer allowed to be thrown away with other rubbish.
That means all households and businesses will have to separate out their organic waste, while local authorities have to make arrangements to collect and/or compost it.
■ Bonus for energy-saving renovations
France already offers financial help for property owners seeking to renovate their homes, but from 2024 it will be contingent on making heat-leaking housing more energy efficient.
Properties ranked bottom on the official energy efficiency scale will have to see their ratings improve by at least two levels for the work to qualify for a government grant.
■ Electric cars for €100/month
For many drivers, price remains the biggest barrier to going electric. France is aiming to increase uptake by offering low-income households the long-term lease of an electric car for as little as €100 a month.
The new scheme, which comes into effect this month, applies only to people earning less than €15,400 a year and who live at least 15 kilometres from their workplace.
Meanwhile the government continues to offer a "green bonus" to drivers purchasing electric vehicles, though from January the terms are being revised to favour vehicles made with clean energy and sustainable materials, especially within France or the EU.
Road rules
France is helping out car users in other respects, changing the rules to ease the penalties for speeding and letting younger drivers on the road.
■ Full driving licences from 17
Under-18s can now get a full driver's licence in France, in a change intended to make it easier for teenagers to get to work or school, especially in remote areas.
Previously, teens could start supervised driving lessons at 15 and take the test at 17, but they would only get a temporary permit and still would need to be accompanied by a more experienced driver.
■ Softer penalties for 'minor' speeding
From January, going over the speed limit by less than 5 kilometres an hour will still be fined €68 to €135, but it will no longer involve losing a point on a driver's licence – France's system for tracking offences, which can ultimately cost drivers their permit.
Now points will only be deducted for speeding by 5 kilometres/hour or more.
Housing incentives
With rising interest rates making mortgages more expensive, the French government is making it easier to access state help to buy a home, while also offering new assistance to older people who want to stay in theirs.
■ Help-to-buy scheme extended
More first-time buyers can benefit from an interest-free loan now that the government is loosening the criteria for its prêt à taux zéro (zero interest loan) scheme, including the income threshold.
It estimates an extra 6 million households could qualify for such loans, which are on offer until 2027.
■ Bonus for letting second homes
Seeking to boost the housing stock without having to build, the government is now offering a pay-out of €5,000 per residence to owners who rent out vacant properties or second homes in rural areas long-term.
■ Accessible housing
A new scheme allows over-60s and people with disabilities to claim help with the cost of making their homes more accessible – for example, installing wheelchair ramps or a stair lift.
The government will provide up to €22,000 depending on the project.
Reproductive health
■ Free female condoms for under-26s, period protection
Female or internal condoms will be free in pharmacies for young people in 2024, just like male condoms have been since 2023.
Under-26s will also be able to claim most of the cost of reusable period pants or menstrual cups on national health insurance, while low-earners will be reimbursed entirely.
■ Miscarriage leave
Women who lose a pregnancy unexpectedly will qualify for immediate paid sick leave from 2024, without the usual three-day waiting period before social security kicks in to cover sick pay.
