Pacific

French Polynesian employment law faces further challenge

10:09 am on 3 July 2009

There has been a further referral to the French supreme court of new French Polynesian laws aimed at protecting jobs of locals.

Tahitipresse reports that the Commerce Federation is taking issue with a provision requiring job applicants to have lived in the territory for five years to be eligible to work.

This follows a challenge by the French high commissioner, Adolphe Colrat, who believes that a law restricting 95 percent of public service positions to French Polynesians violates French constitutional provisions for equal access.

The Commerce Federation says it wants to know how there is proof of excessive competition by non-residents to justify the restrictions.

It also says some local jobseekers don't have adequate qualifications to meet the employers' needs.

The local laws were passed by the French Polynesia assembly almost unanimously.