‘It is time Guyanese oil workers’ salaries match foreigners’ - Minister Bharrat

‘It is time Guyanese oil workers’ salaries match foreigners’ – Minister Bharrat

Jun 18, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat says it is time for Guyanese workers in the oil and gas sector to receive remuneration comparable to their expatriate counterparts once they possess similar qualifications, training and experience.

Speaking at the Handover Ceremony for the Letter of Approval of Local Content Plans at Duke Lodge on Wednesday, Bharrat said the issue has been discussed at the policy level and that the industry has now matured to a point where greater attention should be paid to compensation.

“The other areas that I wanted to point out this morning is the equality, not equal, but equality in remuneration for Guyanese workers. That is something that we have really discussed at the policy level, and we believe that at this point in time.

‘It is time Guyanese oil workers’ salaries match foreigners’ - Minister Bharrat

Minister Vickram Bharrat addressing the audience on Wednesday.

It is the right time, five years after is the right time for us to start advocating more strongly for this to ensure the Guyanese that are employed with comparable qualification, comparable training, comparable certification, and also now experience that they too can have a comparable remuneration to expat workers with similar background, and I think that is only fair,” he explained.

The minister said that a few years ago, most local workers in the sector had little or no experience, but were trained and qualified for their positions. Today, however, many have accumulated between five and eight years of experience.

Sharing his experiences from visits to offshore facilities, including Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels and the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI), Bharrat said he has met many Guyanese who have spent years working with their respective companies.

“You go to Technip FMC, you will hear Guyanese working five, six years, which is good. It means that they would have gained experience, it means that they would have upskilled themselves, it means that they would have acquired certificate, and they would have improved in whatever skill set they’re involved in. I believe now is the right time for us to look together, together as a sector, as to how we can improve on the equality in terms of remuneration for workers with comparable skill set experience, etc. I think it’s only fair,” Minister Bharrat stressed.

The minister reminded company representatives at the event that there are young, energetic, qualified and enthusiastic Guyanese working throughout the oil and gas sector. He recalled meeting several Guyanese professionals abroad, including during a trip to Singapore where he met five young Guyanese engineers working on an FPSO.

According to Minister Bharrat, the engineers are expected to return to Guyana aboard the vessel and continue working offshore.

While acknowledging that Guyanese are pleased to be part of the sector, the minister said remuneration remains an issue that is frequently raised by workers.

In this regard, he said, “I think it is the right time, because we have gained experience, so that is something I want us to look at collectively.”

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

foreigners, Guyanese oil workers, offshore, salaries

Latest News