OFFSHORE workers are facing barriers to retraining which could impact the success of a just transition to environmental and socially sustainable jobs, a survey has shown.
Those working in the oil, gas, wind and decommissioning sectors in Scotland support the idea of an “offshore passport” to allow them to transfer their skills between sectors. However, many must shell out thousands of pounds of their own money on training courses before they are hired with no guarantee of work.
They are also routinely having to repeat training they have already done, according to the survey by Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES), Platform and Greenpeace, supported by RMT and Unite Scotland.
It suggested such barriers could scupper the success of a just transition, because in order to access jobs in wind power, workers have to pay to repeat training courses, despite already holding relevant qualifications.
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Campaigners are warning that the Scottish Government must support efforts to remove such hurdles to ensure it delivers on its promise of a just transition.
Jack, a father-of-two from Fife, has worked in the oil industry for 12 years. In the past two years he’s spent £3,000 on training costs with no help from employers.
“Shelling out all this money does cause stress, and it does have an impact on your family and your living costs,” said the 39-year-old.
“There’s lots of people worrying about how they’re going to pay the mortgage. I know people who’ve packed it in altogether because working offshore is just too expensive.
“I have thought about working in renewables, but that’d be thousands of pounds you’d have to pay to work in both industries. It’d just be too much; it costs an absolute fortune just to stay in one sector.”
Alasdair, aged 60, from the Highlands, has 30 years’ experience working offshore as a rigger and scaffolder.
He said: “It’s like people are being forced to buy their jobs … It’s a money-making racket as far as I’m concerned.
“Having a system where you don’t have to duplicate training would make much more sense. The training is basically exactly the same for both industries.”
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The survey of more than 300 Scottish offshore workers found that 93% were in favour of introducing standardised training for working offshore Ryan Morrison, just transition campaigner at FoES, said: “The skills and experience of offshore workers are vital to enable a rapid shift to renewable energy, but workers cannot be expected to fork out thousands from their own pocket to duplicate qualifications they already have.
“Promises of green jobs mean little when this training regime holds back the opportunity to move between sectors. It is time for politicians to listen to these workers by creating a regulated training passport to ensure a just transition for offshore workers.”
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