Additional Recruitment and Training Requirements to be Implemented for Oil and Gas Industry

Oil and gas sector employers sponsoring foreign nationals for new or renewed work permits are now subject to further heightened recruitment requirements, as the government seeks to increase compliance and increase local worker participation in the industry. The new requirements are in addition to those in place since 2012. 

Employers must now advertise open positions in The Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times. The Petroleum Commission has not specified the requisite duration of these advertisements. 

Oil and gas sector companies will also be required to provide the name and resume of a Ghanaian replacement and a succession plan in the event the foreign worker’s employment is terminated. For work permit renewals, the company must provide an updated succession plan and a training program to detail the duties to be transferred to a local resident in case of the foreign national’s employment termination. Lastly, oil and gas sector companies must notify the Petroleum Commission regarding any recruitment activities. 

As of September 1, 2014, the Petroleum Commission will reject any work permit applications that do not meet these new requirements. 

What This Means for Employers 

The new requirements, meant to offer Ghanaians a full opportunity to participate in the petroleum industry, will pose more hurdles for employers in hiring foreign nationals in the oil and gas sector. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected]. 

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