Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Heard from someone that they are cutting back on FIFO jobs and mainly employing locals that can drive into the minesites. Good for the local economies not for those that were relying on FIFO work to pay their mortgages.

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

To be fair they (companies) have always brought in locals as it stops the locals from resenting the FIFO arrangements. With recent cut backs and companies looking at further cost savings it was bound to happen that they extend it to more locals wherever possible as this saves on travel expenses, flights and accommodation etc.

The specialist skills will always need to be FIFO if there aren't enough locals to fill those skilled jobs - so nothing will change on that score.

Sign of the times......

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

I think that is more of a QLD thing than a WA thing as there are more local miners that live in the towns close to mines. In WA a lot of the mines simply dont have a local population or if they do, the local population doesnt have mine skills, such as Laverton.

In WA FIFO has cut down simply because the jobs have disapeared.

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

I have to say I'm FIFO to WA and I've not really seen much evidence of this slowdown, apart from the clients side. These mining giants are beginning to realise that if they ran their companies as they should do, then their profits would be even more enormous. They've been paying hundreds of people to do nothing but watch subbies work for years and are now just waking up to it.

you just watch I'll get the boot next week:D

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Good point:thumbup: I focussed on the locals being in the vicinity as the OP mentioned jobs going to them as opposed to FIFO workers.

Either way most companies are watching costs especially as projects are constantly undercutting costs as much as poss to win contracts and especially if they need to compete with overseas companies and the $ exchange rate.

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Yep. I've noticed far more accountability and HUGE costs being more closely monitored and assessed and accountability for productivity levels.

Hope you're wrong about the boot:D:unsure:

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

yup.. on my project.. they wont fifo you in from anywhere other than QLD.. which might not sound like much but previously they and other projects had no issues with taking people from wherever

sign of the times.. probably.. hopefully there will be a stabilization.. some new ( might not be mega) projects on the horizon.. and this one might cause a bit of Dickson.. but the guys who got in as there was a boom on, might have to drop out and go back to "civvy st" and therefore there will be still jobs for those that survive ( i have still got 14 - 18 months left on this project :fingerscrossed:

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

I am afraid you are right. A lot of firms prefer to use subbies as they are there to work.

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

it s the same on our project in Qld, im on a FIFO contract were they had a clear out of white collar last December but we are putting more blue collar staff on at the moment, this project was going before the down turn once its over its slim pickings. my next contract is in Europe. Europe is flying in my field and seems to be picking up in general

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

My friend who has worked on several mine sites said he can't believe the waste that is involved - three times as many workers as what they actually need, huge amounts of food thrown out etc etc He was so outraged he wrote to the mining boss and received a letter back saying 'they were looking into it.'

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Really, my husband was just in Europe and said the complete opposite? What field are you in?

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Loads of work in engineering in Europe, UK & the USA - oil & gas, rail, power, infrastructure

Contract rates in certain fields are getting close to what they are here

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

i hope the rest of the world is catching up re contract rates..
I'm getting an itch to get out of gladstone.. but the golden handcuffs are hard to walk away from ! :o

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Contract rates in Houston are on a par with here - if not higher. Which kind of shows that the Chevon/KJV justification to do their engineering outside of Australia was bullshit

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

so what changed do ya reckon? Can't be union pressure cos USA is equally unionised as Aus?

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Check out BRICS entry into mining, that's probably the reason.

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

well a change is as good as a rest be it Houston, or BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

To the google instant cv job engine :thumbsup:

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

It's just Chevron and friends protecting their patch. I have no problem with that but the federal and state governments could have done a lot more to get the engineering done here - they did f**k all. Chevron said that it was too expensive to do it here but that's rubbish

A very similar situation happened on a rail project in the UK recently, so it's not just here

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

yeh often there's a much bigger picture which we're not privy to.

Bollocking politics:thumbdown:

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

We often compare this country to Canada and Norway - and we do share many traits with those countries but they would never have allowed a project like Gorgon to be engineered offshore

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Canada and Norway have a lot more in common with USA and Europe(and corresponding politics and looking after each other) whereas Aus is more in tune with Asia who frankly are as much in competition and more competitive cost wise so not quite the same protectionist values.

It's quite scary how much work Aus is now losing to overseas ventures. It's going to be much more healthy when the $ comes down and export is a more viable option.

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

BRICS have always been large miners. South African mining has actually reduced in recent years from being the worlds biggest miner of gold and plantinum. Russia has always been a big miner, though it has increased its mining. India has always also been a significant miner. Brazil is home of Vale - the worlds biggest mining company. China has also always been a very large miner.

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

and of course you can't forget the yanks, they're really large minors. sorry

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

ha ha well i hear that often.. and as a foreigner i am happy to be in resources and the reason being is that there is a lack of talent in the numbers required..

So i take a job away from a local.. perhaps.. or I fill a role as the best candidate. Although i am not a 457 visa holder.. i'm one of those "Cuzzie bros" (and not a scaffolder..!) i am more than happy for the opportunity afforded to me

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

With South Africa now a member, they are all working as one!
IMF beware!!!

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Mining is in decline in SA

Another thing that the ANC is incapable of managing properly

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

You watch BRIC make a go of it (they have joined forces to do just that). Complacency is a big mistake!

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

i do off shore work, the one that is realy flying at the moment is renewable energy (wind farms). There are articles being posted that there is a huge shortage in this field.


Hinkley point is also a massive project

this is an article that came out in Aug this year

http://www.offshorewind.biz/2013/08/...rker-shortage/

if they delete this link just PM me

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

mmmm, not quite true

For Iron Ore:
China - low quality ore, many mines closing as their production costs are higher than Australia - cheaper for them to import
India - low quality ore, huge environmental problems, mines closing and they now import
Russia - no significant iron-ore exports that I am aware of
Brazil - a real competitor to Australia although they have their own problems. Vale are in a cosy little (unspoken) cliche with RTIO and BHPB in order to keep prices high. Between them they still dominate the seaborne iron-ore trade

Here's a fact: For RTIO and BHPB, iron-ore production costs in Australia are among the lowest in the world. They make the bulk of their profits here and that ain't going to change any time soon

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

I was there last month and it it was very upbeat, was he there looking for work or on holiday? and what field was he looking

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

I think South America is becoming a big player their spending some big money on infrastructure, as long as it dosnt go like OGX.
iv also heard the BHP have had there scouts in there for years
You can get some pretty good contracts in south America at the moment, Just need to brush up on the spanish

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

South America has always been a big miner. My father in law was there with Rio when Rio were still a small company.

I worked there years ago. South America has for years dominated silver and copper mining. It is home to the largest mines in the world

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Agree. Though there are some interesting developments taking place across Africa.

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Sure but if Simandou is an example of African competition in iron-ore then Australia has nothing to fear for the time being

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

Ive just finished up in Gladstone. when i first started there i couldnt beleive just how lazy the locals were. it didnt take me long to realize fifo boys are only as good as there last job and locals want the job to last forever as theres not much work after the lpg is finished. gladstone ... what a s@#$ whole:thumbdown:

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

I'm contracting now back in the UK and making more pounds than I was dollars in Brisbane.

Simply not enough people for the rail market, which is good financially, but bad stress wise as a large proportion of the people now working would be sacked otherwise!

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

its exactly the same where we are. Where is your next contract?

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

The rail industry in the UK has always been like that though - over-manned and severely inefficient. It was when I worked in it anyway

It's not just rail; power and O&G also - and now nuclear. Things have certainly turned around over there from a year ago

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

I have to say that... i am beginning to tire of it.. They are talking at work about thinning out staff mid next year in prep for full finish in early 2015..

Might give the guys at Roy Hill or Gorgon a ring.. time to move on

Re: Cutting back on FIFO jobs
 

I'm working on Roy Hill and I'm thinking of jumping over to Gladstone.:rofl:

The grass is always greener.

keel