30 Apr 2013

New Caledonia general strike called in two weeks

5:18 pm on 30 April 2013

The union movement in New Caledonia has announced a general strike and demonstrations in two weeks against the government's inaction to reform the economy and lower the high cost of living.

One union delegate says the territory will be blocked because those elected to power only understand a forceful stance.

Two years ago, 25,000 people took to the streets in unprecedented territory-wide action to push for economic reforms, but the unions say since then the government has failed to implement measures that have been agreed upon.

For a number of reasons, such as high import levies, low taxation of capital, a lack of competition among wholesale distributors as well as high costs of transport and energy, the cost of living in the territory is far higher than in mainland France.