Guyana’s push for equal pay between qualified local and expatriate workers in the oil and gas sector has received positive responses from ExxonMobil Guyana and major floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) contractors, says Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat.
Speaking on the July 12 episode of Starting Point, Bharrat said the government’s call is based on the view that Guyana’s workforce has matured significantly since first oil production in December 2019, with many Guyanese now possessing the qualifications and experience needed to perform the same roles as expatriate employees.
“I can say safely no,” Bharrat said when asked whether the government had encountered resistance from operators since he publicly raised the issue. The minister said he has since discussed the matter with ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge, who indicated the company supports the government’s position.
According to Bharrat, the government is not seeking identical compensation packages for all workers, but rather, equal salaries where Guyanese and expatriates have comparable qualifications, experience and job responsibilities.
“If you’re Guyanese and I’m an expat … you have five years’ experience in the oil and gas sector, you’re a reservoir engineer … both of us are working on a drillship offshore, then the salary that you receive, I should receive too,” he said. He noted that expatriate-specific benefits such as housing or relocation allowances are separate considerations.
Bharrat said the government would not have made such a demand four years ago because the country’s oil industry was still in its infancy and relatively few Guyanese possessed the necessary technical expertise. Today, however, he said local professionals have gained years of industry experience, earned engineering degrees and technical certifications and work alongside expatriates on offshore installations.
The minister also said he raised the issue with the Chief Executive Officer of SBM Offshore during a recent visit to Guyana and received a positive response. SBM operates the four FPSOs currently producing in the Stabroek Block on behalf of ExxonMobil and its co-venturers.
He added that MODEC, which will operate the Errea Wittu and Hammerhead FPSOs, has also indicated it supports a fair-pay approach. According to Bharrat, the company told the government it already has such a structure in place and intends to ensure contractors operating under it follow the same principle.
The minister first raised the issue during the signing of annual local content plans with some companies that operate in the sector.
His comments come as Guyana continues to expand local participation in the petroleum sector through the Local Content Act, which requires operators and contractors to increase the use of Guyanese workers, businesses and services across a range of activities.