Would be great if you're able to get more in-depth information. And know which mine these girls are applying. Will apply there myself. Live inside and be allocated a senior staff motel-type accommodation. Meet them and help save Aus endangered species.
Yes, bringing out the patriotic spirit in me. Will be catching two birds with one stone. Helping the mining industry. Also, helping the baby-boom industry. Not to mention, producing healthier and longer-living offspring. Oh, what a noble and heroic act!
Teresa Ooi From: The Australian July 12, 2012 12:00AMINCENTIVES: Mining companies can pay up to $150,000 in cash allowances and incentives to entice staff to work in remote areas in Western Australia -- thanks to the resources boom -- a survey by Hay Group says.Housing allowance is often the biggest cash payment made to employees on top of the basic salary, which is already 17 per cent higher than the market average.Other incentives include a sign-on bonus of about $20,000, site allowance of about $20,000 and a shift allowance of about $17,000. Some companies also pay a retention bonus.
A senior manager in WA could get up to $96,000 in housing allowance compared to a similar position in Queensland, which will receive only $23,500.
"The huge disparity between WA and other states is based on the remoteness of many of the operations in the resources sector," Hay's senior consultant Steven Paola said.
"Some of these remote locations are becoming quite an expensive place to live and hence companies are providing additional allowances to employees to attract and retain them.
..."The payment of allowances and bonuses is integral to encourage workers to remote sites.
"While the allowances are much higher than in other industries, they are not out of kilter with the prevailing cost of facilities and services," Mr Paola said.
Remote areas, often described as "hardship" postings, lack basic services and are at least 200km from the closest town.
The survey of 55 companies in the resources, mining, construction, oil and gas industries was completed last month.
Mr Paola said a senior manager in WA's Pilbara region could receive up to $121,000 housing allowance -- five times more than a similar position in Queensland's Bowen Basin.
But Mr Paola warned: "The rising cost of wages and incentives may not be sustainable in the long term."
Property prices have also soared in WA, with the median house prices in the Pilbara at $800,000 -- higher than Sydney's $555,000.
House prices in Port Hedland have also skyrocketed: a three-bedroom house now costs more than $1.7m."The high demand and acute housing shortage have resulted in one Pilbara property being sold every 15 hours," Mr Paola said.
In regional Queensland's Bowen Basin, the median house price is $578,500 -- $79,500 higher than Brisbane.
For executives who are sent to work in the sector for a shorter term, most companies pay a rental allowance as a cash payment on top of the employee's base salary.
In WA, companies tend to pay a rental allowance that is double that of other states.
A senior manager in WA can expect to receive an annual rental allowance of $26,000 compared to $18,200 in Queensland.
But in the Pilbara, rental allowance can be as much as four times the national average.
TERESA OOI