The French government says it has no plans to change the extra amount government workers receive in overseas territories.
Annick Girardin Photo: AFP
This was restated by the overseas minister Annick Girardin just days out from her arrival in New Caledonia.
The government pays its workers in New Caledonia and French Polynesia much more than those doing similar work in France and in some cases more than double the amount.
Indexation rates range from 73 percent to 108 percent, depending on the type of job.
Ms Girardin said the system continues to be based on a territory's cost of living and its distance from France.
This is despite repeated public account reports showing disparities with rates on the mainland.
The new French government said efforts have to be continued to lower the cost of living and to help economic development.
Ms Girardin is accompanying the prime minister Edouard Philippe on his first ever official visit to New Caledonia.
In the lead-up to this year's presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign called for massive public sector cuts which would have curbed the indexation.
France has about 160,000 public servants on its overseas payroll.
