Minimum wage
In 2024, the minimum wage increases by 1.13 %. An increase limited to the regular revaluation without any “extra-boost” from the government. Its gross hourly rate is therefore €11.65 from January 1st, 2024, compared to €11.52 until then. As for the gross monthly minimum wage, it increases by about €20, from €1,747.20 to €1,766.92, for a 35-hour working week.
Volunteer firefighters
To boost the availability of volunteer firefighters who are also salaried, the government has introduced a reduction in employer contributions for their employers from January 1st, 2024 to December 31st, 2026. This reduction concerns all employees, but it only applies to contributions due on the part of their remuneration below 1.6 minimum wage (i.e., €2,827 gross per month in 2024). In addition, the amount of the reduction in contributions is capped at €2,000 per year and per employee, without exceeding €10,000 per year for the same employer.
Legal interest rate
For the 1st half of 2024, the legal interest rate is set at 8.01 % for receivables owed to individuals and 5.07 % for receivables owed to professionals. Therefore, this represents a sharp increase compared to the rate of the 2nd half of 2023 (6.82 % and 4.22 % respectively). This rate is used to calculate, in the absence of contractual stipulations, the late payment interest due in the event of unpaid debts by a debtor after he has been given formal notice (i.e. 8.01 % late payment interest if the debtor is a private individual and 5.07 % if the debtor is a professional). It is also used to determine the minimum rate of penalties applicable between professionals in the event of overdue payment of an invoice.
Ecological Transition Mission
The Ecological Transition Mission is a brand-new platform set up by the public authorities to help small and medium-sized businesses make their ecological and energy transition. It is accessible at https://mission-transition-ecologique.beta.gouv.fr. The platform lists all the aid schemes offered by the State in this area, which are not necessarily known by companies, especially small businesses. The objective of the public authorities is to encourage as many companies as possible to embark on the path of ecological transition by facilitating access to public assistance and support available to them (financial aid, diagnostics, loans, calls for projects, etc.).
