An estimated 2,000 people have marched in New Caledonia as part of a strike called by the USTKE union in its push for the increased hiring of locals.
The action came after the union criticised businesses for hiring workers from overseas instead of recruiting and training locals.
The union points to the 1998 Noumea Accord which envisaged measures to help shore up the job market for New Caledonians.
But it adds that nothing has been done to define New Caledonian citizenship in the law.
