France yellow vest protests: Macron announces €100 rise in minimum wage

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a range of conciliatory measures aimed at appeasing “yellow vest" protesters, including increasing the minimum wage and canceling a planned social security tax hike for pensioners earning less than 2,000 euros ($2,272).

France has seen four weekends of violent protests against fuel tax rises, living costs, and other issues.

Speaking in a televised address, Macron condemned the violence but said the protesters' anger was "deep, and in many ways legitimate".

The minimum wage would increase by €100 per month from 2019, he said.

His labor minister said this would be achieved by government topping up small salaries.

A planned tax increase for low-income pensioners would be canceled, overtime pay would no longer be taxed, and employers would be encouraged to pay a tax-free end of year bonus to employees, he added.

However, he refused to reinstate a tax on the wealthy, saying "this would weaken us, we need to create jobs".

"We will respond to the economic and social urgency with strong measures, by cutting taxes more rapidly, by keeping our spending under control, but not with U-turns," he said.

"We want a France where we can live with dignity," said Macron.

The 40-year-old leader, who beat far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a presidential runoff last year, said his government will also ask private employers to pay their workers year-end bonuses if they are able to.

His response came 48 hours after protesters fought street battles with riot police, torching cars and looting shops - the fourth weekend of protests for the so-called "yellow vest" movement which started as a revolt against high fuel costs.

The month-long campaign of nationwide road blockades and weekend protests in Paris, three of which degenerated into destruction and looting, have taken a toll on the French economy with an estimated $1.5bn in losses.

The former investment banker was also under pressure to make amends about cutting remarks he has made about the costs of welfare that critics say made him look aloof and arrogant.

"No doubt over the past year and a half we have not provided answers that were strong and quick enough. I take my share of responsibility," he said.

"I may have given the impression that I did not care about that, that I had other priorities. I also know that I have hurt some of you with my words."

Political opponents, who have largely failed so far to tap into the discontent from the leaderless "yellow vest" movement, slammed his response as insufficient.