New Caledonians demand expulsion of Filipino workers
28/09/2006,
About 500 people have marched through the New Caledonian capital, Noumea, protesting against high prices and demanding the expulsion of expatriate workers from the Philippines.
Protesters earlier blockaded the headquarters of Goro Nickel, a subsidiary of Canadian mining group Inco, after a call for strike action by the Federation of New Caledonian Workers Union (CSTNC).
"We have to kick out the Filipinos," said CSTNC secretary general Sylvain Nea.
Anger has grown over the presence of Filipino workers building a Goro Nickel metal-working factory in the south of the French territory.
Work at the site has slowed, with more than a third of workers returning to Noumea.
A Goro Nickel spokesman says most employees of French catering giant Sodexho, which was providing on-site facilities, joined the strike which started on Monday.
The four mining operations of Societe Le Nickel, part of French metals group Eramet, have also been blocked since Tuesday.
Security forces intervened on Wednesday to remove protesters blockading the Total-Mobil fuel depot.
As well as the expulsion of Filipino workers, CSTNC is demanding the removal of the local government , taxes on high earnings and that a greater share of New Caledonia's mineral wealth remain in the territory.
Its demands have been described as unrealistic by Didier Leroux, the government's chief economist, who says authorities have put in place a series of measures to fight inflation.New Caledonians demand expulsion of Filipino workers
