A recent report by the Territorial Audit Office (CTC) has exposed widespread undeclared labor in French Polynesia's pearl industry, demanding immediate implementation of a targeted action plan. The findings, published by Tahiti Infos, focus on employment conditions in the sector and prioritize establishing anti-fraud measures by 2021.

Shadow Workforce Revealed

The report highlights systemic challenges in tracking pearl industry employment. Without specific occupational codes distinguishing pearl workers from general aquaculture laborers in official statistics (ISPF), estimates remain unreliable. After excluding shrimp/pisciculture workers, the CTC calculates an annual average of 894 pearl sector jobs from 2015-2019 - a figure deemed grossly inadequate given the scale of operations.

Discrepancies in Employment Data

648 professional card-holding producers were registered in 2020

Only 445 employees formally declared in aquaculture/pearl farming that year

President Fritch's estimate of 2,500-3,000 actual jobs underscores the gap

Alarming Labor Conditions

Over 50% of workers lack employment contracts or social protections, a situation authorities acknowledge but have failed to rectify. The CTC urgently recommends:

Immediate creation of a specialized pearl worker classification

Mandatory 2021 action plan against undeclared labor

Enhanced sector transparency measures

\"This isn't just about fraud prevention - it's about protecting vulnerable workers and legitimizing our signature industry,\" the report emphasizes. As Polynesia's pearl sector celebrates its 60th anniversary, these findings demand urgent governmental response to safeguard both workers and the industry's international reputation.