A differential allowance will be paid to public servants paid under the minimum wage

The Smic (minimum wage for interprofessional growth) was increased by 2.41% on June 1. This mechanical increase is due to the sharp increase in energy prices in the current context of conflict in the Middle East; the revaluation of the 1^er June is therefore in addition to the annual increase in the minimum wage, which takes place every 1^er January.

One decree of 2 august 1991 provides for the introduction of a differential allowance to compensate for the discrepancy which may exist from time to time between:

• the gross monthly amount of the minimum wage;
• and the gross monthly amount of index salary paid to public officials.

The payment of this additional remuneration is thus triggered when the amount of the minimum wage increases, without the salary or index scales of public officials being raised in an equivalent manner.

The Government confirmed on 28 May the implementation of the differential allowance as of 1^er June. According to the Ministry of Action and Public Accounts, this measure affects about 862,000 public officials.

What is the amount of the differential allowance?

The differential allowance shall be calculated in a personalized manner for each public official, on the basis of gross index treatment (also known as basic salary), and, where applicable, benefits in kind received; premiums and allowances are not taken into account in determining the amount of the differential allowance.

The calculation is therefore as follows: differential allowance = Gross monthly minimum wage – gross index salary (and benefits in kind) of the public official.

In the case of incomplete or incomplete employment, the differential allowance shall be reduced in proportion to the working time.

Similarly, when a staff member works part-time, the differential allowance is reduced to the same extent as his index salary.

Furthermore, the differential allowance is reduced in the same proportion as the index salary during periods of absence during which the index salary is reduced (for example, in the case of paid sick leave on half pay).

For staff who were already receiving the differential allowance for previous revaluations of the minimum wage, the amount of this additional remuneration shall be increased from 1^er June.

In any case, the maximum amount of the differential allowance is set at €65.28 gross per month.