Unions in French Polynesia have restated a threat to launch a general strike because of the local law making Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for those working with the public.
The law, passed in August, was due come into force in October but amid broad opposition, its application has been delayed until December.
A union leader Patrick Galenon said it makes no sense to impose such a law on local salary earners but not to the thousands of public servants and police arriving from France each year.
A union leader Patrick Galenon Photo: Tahiti Infos
The unions stayed away from a government-sponsored weekend meeting to discuss the implementation of the law.
Employers, however, welcomed moves for the health control agency ARASS to collate information about the vaccination status of employees.
They say this exempts employers from any obligation to check the status of their staff and transfers responsibility to enforce the law to a state agency.
The President of French Polynesia, Edouard Fritch Photo: AFP
The pandemic has eased, prompting the French High Commission to shorten the curfew in the Society Islands to five hours a night from November 2nd.
The president Edouard Fritch said should the pandemic worsen, a lockdown will no longer be affordable.
He said the government doesn't have the resources to save the companies or workers, not even with the use of loans.