900 executives left Algeria's Sonatrach

A total of 900 executives at Algeria's energy group Sonatrach quitted their jobs at the corporation between 2005 and 2007 seeking better opportunities in Gulf and Western companies working in southern Algeria or in the Arab Gulf as well as in some African countries, according to an official at Sonatrach.“The situation is becoming worse and worse because the energy ministry and Sonatrach have been late in handling the phenomenon,” said the same source.

“Sonatrach is still keeping silent although the best engineers went to Western or Gulf competitor companies

They preferred to leave because they felt that their efforts were not valorized in addition to increasing social pressures in comparison to salaries and privileges offered by foreign companies to the executives and their families

 For example, the difference between salaries earned by executives at Sonatrach and a US company is from 8 to 12 times.Experts say 20 to 40 percent pay raise announced by Sonatrach has no direct effect on the 40,000 employee’s base salaries.

 “Most of the pay raises consist in bonuses which depend on the employees’ profitability at their jobs in the company.”

 According to the same source, the decrease in the number of experienced engineers pushed Sonatrach to decide re-dividing Hassi Messaoud, the largest oil field the group is operating to four activity zones in which engineers work at a quicker pace than before.Doubts are surrounding an intention to weaken Sonatrach and deprive it of competences.

 This intention aims at making changes in the group and allowing partnerships with American and European groups under the pretext that Sonatrach can not afford competition.