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What must an employer do when setting a salary?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: Respect the minimum wage, the SMIC. An employer must respect the SMIC when setting a salary. It is forbidden to pay less. The employer must also give a payslip (bulletin de paie). Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Le droit du travail (2/5)” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Le droit du travail (2/5)” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ Wait for the town hall's agreementAttendre l'accord de la mairieThis is not the right answer: a wage is the money the employer pays the employee in exchange for work.
- ✗ Pay less than the SMIC if the employee agreesPayer moins que le SMIC si le salarié est d'accordIt is forbidden to pay less than the SMIC.
- ✗ Ask the opinion of the health insurance fundDemander l'avis de la caisse d'Assurance maladieThis option does not match the fact sheet: the SMIC is the minimum hourly wage in France.
- ✓ Respect the minimum wage, the SMICRespecter le salaire minimum, le SMICCorrect answer. An employer must respect the SMIC when setting a salary. It is forbidden to pay less. The employer must also give a payslip (bulletin de paie).
What the source says
« Il est interdit de verser un salaire inférieur au salaire minimum de croissance »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Que doit faire un employeur pour fixer un salaire ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the multi-year residence card (CSP). The Ministry's wording: “Que doit faire un employeur pour fixer un salaire ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Le droit du travail (2/5)” (French).
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