Guyana’s call for qualified nationals to earn the same salaries as expatriates performing comparable offshore jobs has received backing from the country’s largest oil and gas employers, according to Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat.
Bharrat said both ExxonMobil Guyana, SBM Offshore and MODEC have endorsed the government’s position that Guyanese oil and gas workers with similar qualifications, certifications, training, and experience should receive equal pay for equal work.Â
“I’ve had the conversation with Alistair [ExxonMobil Guyana President] from Exxon and they are in support of it …I recently met with SBM CEO [Oivind Tangen], who was in the country and paid a visit to me, and I raised that with him too. And they’re on board because SBM is one of the major contractors for Exxon,” the Minister said in a July 10 snippet of the upcoming episode of the Starting Point podcast.
He explained that MODEC, which will operate the Errea Wittu floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) for ExxonMobil’s Uaru development in the Stabroek Block, has also indicated support.
“ We [the Government of Guyana] are not asking for anything contrary to the way in which they operate. We are not asking for anything unlawful. We are asking for something fair,” Minister Bharrat said.
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When oil production began in the Stabroek Block in 2019, expatriates filled most technical positions because Guyana lacked experienced personnel. Today, about 7,000 Guyanese occupy roles across offshore operations after gaining industry training, certifications, and hands-on experience.
ExxonMobil Guyana and SBM Offshore, through the FacTor program, have worked with local partners to provide Guyanese with advanced diplomas in electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, and production disciplines, along with employment opportunities upon completion to support FPSO operations offshore.
Looking ahead, the Guyana Technical Training College Inc. (GTTCI) in Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is expected to play a larger role in strengthening the country’s skilled workforce by expanding access to technical programs aligned with industry needs.
Graduates are trained for technical roles that support offshore production systems, including production technician, mechanical technician, electrical technician, instrumentation technician, and cargo operator positions.
