Thousands in French Polynesia rally to protest pension reform

4:40 pm on 7 March 2018

Thousands of people in French Polynesia have held a rally in Papeete as part of general strike to stop the government's pension reform.

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Photo: 123RF

Union organisers said 6000 people joined the demonstration while police put the figure at 2500.

They insisted that the reform to hike the retirement age from 60 to 62 be abandoned.

The government wants the assembly to adopt it on Thursday.

The unions have warned that on the day they will block the road access to Papeete from both the east and west.

The government has said it had no option but to change the eligibility criteria to secure the system's survival.

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