Inflation in Canada hit a 40-year excessive final yr of 6.8% on an annual common foundation, in line with Statistics Canada. This yr it has eased, reaching 4% in August. Nonetheless, greater costs proceed to affect customers and wage negotiations. Within the Canadian auto sector, union Unifor and Ford agreed in September on a brand new contract growing wages by as a lot as 25%. In mining, COVID-19 materials provide chain snags have subsided whereas labour considerations are much less about pay than availability.
“It’s labour mobility and abilities, not simply prices,” Doug Groh, who manages and co-manages greater than $1 billion for Sprott Asset Administration, stated by cellphone from New York the place he’s based mostly. “It’s nonetheless a problem to seek out the ability set on the market that’s reliable and succesful to do the roles.
“This has compelled operators to turn out to be extra reliant on exterior contractors which provides one other layer of price and isn’t at all times essentially the most environment friendly means to enhance productiveness over the long term.”
Salaries leap
Of the 76 mines responding to this yr’s survey between March and August, 59 had been union and 17 had been non-union. Of these, 62 mines elevated wages by a mean of three%, starting from 1.5% to 12.5%, within the 12 months earlier than the survey. Wages had been unchanged at 14 mines whereas no mines within the survey diminished wages.
Of notice among the many hourly pay reported, one firm is paying underground miners C$100 an hour, excess of any others. The survey withholds names, however we will say it’s a gold mine.
“Worker retention is an issue for some northern Canadian tasks and that is inflicting wage inflation,” Michael Grey, a mining analyst at Agentis Capital in Vancouver, stated by electronic mail. “CEOs have flagged this as a difficulty to me, citing a number of British Columbia tasks heading towards building that had been recruiting and paying 50% greater than they anticipated in some instances to draw expertise.”
Perks provided
This yr’s survey discovered 43 mines utilizing some type of incentive bonus plan whereas 30 had an worker retention plan. Firms cited security, revenue, manufacturing and price financial savings as causes for implementing them.
“Many mines pay money bonuses for good security efficiency,” Costmine enterprise supervisor and price estimator Krista Noyes wrote within the report. “The commonest kind is a set bonus for attaining an accident-free report for a specified time period.”
Some mines pay bonuses based mostly on enchancment over historic averages, or they might tie the bonus to manufacturing as a set award per tonne of ore produced if no lost-time accidents happen, Noyes stated. Staff, their division or a complete mine will be penalized when lost-time accidents happen.
Customary advantages are generally expanded, she stated. Perks embody transportation to the mine, paid or sponsored daycare services, journey bills, supplemental retirement plans, accident and life insurance coverage, inventory buy plans, security tools, device allowances, scholarships for dependent kids, training and coaching.
Effectivity hit
“Amongst explorers, I anticipate we are going to see belt tightening on bonuses and salaries given the very troublesome fairness markets,” Grey stated. “For abroad tasks, I’ve heard skilled mining employees had been being paid eye-popping figures to go and work in sure international locations corresponding to Pakistan.”
This yr’s survey confirmed some pay declined. The typical salaries for mine engineer fell 3.1% to $105,800 from $109,200 and environmental coordinator stayed the identical at C$93,400. Additionally, at milling operations, the hourly wage fell for a mill tools operator by 8.8% to C$40.60 from C$44.50. Costmine says it believes declines in pay for these positions are usually not indicative of the broader rising development in pay, and wouldn’t present in a multi-year evaluation.
Final yr, 73 mines responded; 55 had been union and 18 had been non-union. Of these 63 elevated wages by a mean of 4.3%, starting from 1% to fifteen%, within the 12 months earlier than the survey. Wages had been unchanged at 10 mines then and none lower wages.
“Power prices are at all times a priority, too, after all,” fund supervisor Groh says. “However that volatility seems to be extra manageable as a result of it’s anticipated whereas labour roster modifications and ability set necessities can current managements with longer-term challenges with planning and execution.
“Changing into extra reliant on exterior contractors tends to extend prices and goes towards the effectivity and margin enchancment alternative owner-operators are attempting to attain.”
