Pacific

Public sector job cuts announced in French Polynesia

19:28 pm on 4 July 2013

The new French Polynesian government has outlined plans to cut 1,000 public sector jobs within two years amid the territory's worst economic crisis.

The finance minister, Nuihau Laurey, says 200 staff will have to go this year, and 400 next year and in the year thereafter.

Provisions to fund their departure will be included in the budget, which will be tabled at the end of next week - a day before the president, Gaston Flosse, heads to Paris to seek assistance to implement the measures.

Mr Laurey says the loss of activity will be reflected in the kind of jobs to be eliminated.

The cuts will also affect public agencies, such as the Housing Authority, Tahiti Tourism and Tahiti Nui TV.