NLNG Seafarers protest proposed 50 percent salary cut

Seafarers of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Ship Managemant Limited (NSML), a subsidiary of the NLNG have protested a proposed 50 percent cut in salary.

BusinessDay gathered that the protest was in reaction to the mail signed by the Crewing Manager on behalf of NSML management requiring Nigerian Seafarers to sign and comply with a proposed 50 percent salary cut within seven days or risk losing their jobs. The arbitrary salary slash is expected to take effect from Sept. 1 2016.

“Nigerian Seafarers condemn the manner of informing them without proper consultation, which is partial and unjust,” a Seafarer source told BusinessDay.

Nigerian oil and gas companies such as NLNG are struggling with a more than 50 percent collapse in oil prices, which might have necessitated the proposed cut in Seafarer salaries.

NLNG has also proposed a 20 percent cut in salaries of foriegn Seafarers including Indians, Malaysians, Pakistanis, Russians, and Croatians, amongst others who are also said to be challenging the 20 percent wage cutlevied on them by NSML management.

BusinessDay learnt that this has thrown up another bone of contention with Nigerian Seafarers contesting having to earn lower than foreign Seafarers if the proposed cuts are implemented.

The protesting Nigerian Seafarers argue that managements proposal is untenable considering their years of rigorous training at Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), and another three years of study in the UK.

Efforts to discuss with NSML management on Tuesday August 9 2016, ended in a deadlock.

BusinessDay learnt that the proposed salary cut is discriminatory as it will not affect non Seafaring and office based staff at NSML, NLNG and Bonny Gas Transport (BGT).

The Seafarering source tells BusinessDay that the proposed wage cut could kill dreams of achieving the Nigerianisation plan which is committed to ensuring that Nigerian seafarers are engaged and well represented on BGT and NLNG Chartered Vessel Nigeria exported some 19.6 million metric tons of LNG in 2014, the fourth largest output worldwide, according to data compiled by research firm IHS.

The NLNG plant has a capacity of 22 million tons per annum of LNG and 4 million tons per annum of LPG.

The NLNG plant has a capacity of 22 million tons per annum of LNG and 4 million tons per annum of LPG.