General employer contribution relief calculated on the sector minimum wage when it stays below the SMIC

Article 20 of the 2026 Social Security Financing Act inserts a III bis into Article L. 241-13 of the Social Security Code: in companies covered by a sector whose national minimum wage for unskilled employees stayed below the SMIC throughout the previous calendar year, with no company agreement or unilateral employer decision setting wages above the SMIC, the coefficient of the general reduction in employer contributions is calculated on that sector minimum (capped at the SMIC) instead of the SMIC. The rule does not apply if it would result in a larger reduction. A decree must set the conditions, notably for companies covered by several sectors.