PDVSA workers defect to private oil service firms over low pay

Active workers at Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) are seeking to move to international and domestic private oil services companies because of the low salaries paid by the state-owned firm, according to the portal El Pitazo. This outflow of technical talent toward private-sector competitors is compounding the operational difficulties facing the national oil industry.

Besides PDVSA, foreign companies such as the U.S. firm Chevron have also been affected by this trend of poaching specialized personnel, according to the reported information. The gap in pay between the state corporation and private operators is pushing skilled workers to seek better working conditions in both the international and local markets.

Against this backdrop of operational recovery, the oilfield services company Halliburton expects solid growth in Venezuela and projects that its international business will grow 12% this year, according to Bitácora Económica. The expansion of these private companies contrasts with the salary constraints facing the payroll of the Venezuelan state firm.