Petrotrin wages higher

Wages at the state-owned Petroleum company of Trinidad and Tobago (Petrotrin) are not on par with other comparative energy companies.

In many cases, Petrotrin salaries are far higher.

This information was shared in an online article by the Energy Chamber on Friday night, putting another spotlight on workers' earnings amidst demands for a higher salary and the looming threat of a strike set to begin tomorrow.

Earlier this week, citizens expressed surprise and in some cases condemnation over what they felt were exorbitant salaries for cleaners, who were said to be making approximately $10,000 monthly.

This is a far cry from cleaners in the non-energy sectors, who make less than half of that for the same pay period.

According to the Energy Chamber's data, a foreman at Petrotrin earns approximately $22,000 monthly compared to a foreman in the private oil sector who earned just above $12,000.

For senior level jobs however, the trend changes, with Petrotrin senior managers, in many cases earning less than their counterparts in the private oil sector.

A senior engineer at Petrotrin earns a minimum of around $30,000, while the industry average is just under $45,000, a significant gap.

The comparison was made using the current salaries of Petrotrin workers (with consolidated COLA) and six local companies plus one joint venture between a local and an international company.

None of the multinational firms, such as BP or BHP Biliton were used in the survey. The Energy Chambers report showed that blue collar workers at the state-owned company make significantly higher wages, sometimes twice the amount of other energy companies.

According to the chamber, at the supervisory and professional level, Petrotrin rates are typically higher than the other major oil, gas and petrochemical companies.

However, at senior engineer levels and above Petrotrin rates are lower.

The salaries of executive management at both Petrotrin and private local companies were not reported by the chamber, however the Sunday Guardian understands that the salary for the President of Petrotrin stands near $180,000, while the companies Vice President earns near $120,000.

Still in an industry that focuses on international trade, Petrotrin's salaries are below the international standard.

An electrician, according to the 2015 Oil and Gas Global Salary Guide, would earn US$ 4,041 monthly, (TT$28,000) but neither Petrotrin or private local contractors pay anywhere near that amount.

Further, the disparity in wages between blue collar and senior employees is wider in the local private oil sector than at Petrotrin, though the chamber noted that Petrotrin staff also "tend to have generous benefit packages that can significantly increase their total compensation package."