31 May 2012

New Caledonia deal on cost of living ready for signature

3:16 pm on 31 May 2012

An agreement is expected to be signed in New Caledonia today aimed at curbing the cost of living.

This follows nearly a year of consultations and involved the territory's Congress, the trade union movement and the French state.

A year ago, unprecedented territory-wide mass rallies were held against the high cost of living, prompting commissions to be set up to deal with the challenges.

The employers have been alarmed at recent comments by commission members and said they wondered how any economic deals could be reached without them being consulted.