Employer organisations in French Polynesia say they are stunned at a union call for an unlimited general strike starting on the 15th of this month.

A strike notice by most of Tahiti's unions was issued last week, calling on the government to abandon its planned pension reform.

Photo: RNZI/ Walter Zweifel

The notice raises 11 other points of concern, including fiscal reform and adjustments to cope with the high cost of living.

To ensure the pension system's continued viability, the government proposed to raise the retirement age next year from 60 to 62.

The proposal also requires those seeking to have a full pension to contribute to social security for 38 years and not for 35 as now.

The employer federations say they are perplexed at the strike call, given that they have for years tried to find a way to safeguard the retirement scheme.

Last month, the president Edouard Fritch said that failing to reform the system would make it impossible to assure all pensions will be paid after 2020.

The unions hope to be able to mobilise 10,000 people in Papeete on the first day of the strike.