A professional training organisation in New Caledonia has launched a programme to fight poor literacy in the workforce.
This follows a study which shows that about 18 percent of adults between 18 and 65 have difficulty reading and writing in French.
Another survey found that among 5,000 young people aged between 17 and 24 more than 30 percent were illiterate.
Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The organisation, known as Fiaf, has called on employers to turn to it to identify those needing help.
It says it's a process which will take years to bear fruit.
In New Caledonia, several languages are being used, including Wallisian and Futunian.
One in three adults who isn't a native French speaker struggles with the written language.