New Caledonia

Key instruments

• Code du travail de Nouvelle-Calédonie

  Territorial labour code governing employment and collective relations

• Convention collective — employés de maison

  Sector agreement for household/domestic employees

• CAFAT social-security declaration requirements

  Employer obligations for covered workers including domestic employees

Union formation

Unions organise and bargain under French-derived territorial rules. Major organisations include USOENC and others (including CGTNC and politically oriented Kanak unionism such as USTKE in public accounts). Collective agreements can be extended. This is not a PACLI-style independent union Act model.

Strengths

• Detailed territorial Labour Code
• Specific collective agreement covering domestic workers
• Established multi-union landscape (e.g. USOENC and peers)
• CAFAT social-security linkages for formal and household employees
• Strong comparative learning value for Melanesian domestic-worker coverage

Gaps

• Not a PALM/RSE sending jurisdiction
• French territorial regime limits direct transfer to independent PIC FOA models
• Dual economy and local-employment rules create distinct politics of work
• PIoWR has no operational jurisdiction — awareness and solidarity only

Notable unions

• USOENC

  Major territorial union organisation; social-dialogue oriented

• CGTNC / other territorial confederations

  Additional collective-agreement signatories including domestic-worker CC

• USTKE

  Kanak-oriented unionism often noted in territorial labour politics