Multinational employer renegotiates pay due to labour shortage

An oil and gas producer will go back to the table to revisit how much it pays workers at an $11.4 billion offshore project.

Woodside Petroleum confirmed it will renegotiate remuneration for those working at its Pluto Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Expansion, 180km northwest of Karratha.

“It is probably too early to say but there are some cost pressures on the ledger, there are some cost savings on the ledger,” Woodside acting CEO Meg O’Neill said at Credit Suisse’s 8th Australian Energy Conference in Sydney.

Pay rise predicted

QMEB understands workers are widely expected to receive a pay rise due to an industry-wide labour shortage and mining boom, which has forced employers to fiercely compete for a limited workforce across the Golden State.

“As soon as we have those updated bids from our contractors, we will be communicating with our shareholders,” O’Neill said.

Apply now

To combat this, Woodside is inviting entry-level job applications across its operations.

The following job vacancies have been advertised:

• electrical instrumentation (multiple positions)
• warehouse and logistics (multiple)
• business administration (multiple)
• operations support (multiple)
• process operation (multiple)
• mechanical fitting (multiple)
• communications (multiple).

Click here to apply. Successful applicants will be offered a comprehensive training program that lasts between one and four years, trade or vocational certificates, and continuing work. A “strong willingness” to learn and “physical fitness” is required.

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The proponent is unlikely to postpone the project for much longer since oil and gas prices have significantly recovered from sharp falls recorded during the national economic shutdown in early 2020.

Woodside hopes to make a final investment decision with project partner BHP Group sometime before Christmas 2021.