PEMEX leaves AMLO with 107,249 pensioners

On December 1st, Mexico’s upcoming government , led by Andrés Manuel López Obrador , and the soon-to-be director of Mexican Petroleums (PEMEX) , Octavio Romero , will receive a payroll of 107,249 retired pensioners , 29,916 of which have retired during the present administration.

Out of said amount, 2,180 government workers presented their requests for retirement between January 1 and August 31 of the present year.

According to data provided by the subdirectorate of Labor Relations and Personnel Services , a branch of the Corporate Management of Administration and Services at PEMEX , though the National Transparency Platform , each retired pensioner is costing the company a monthly average of 35,574 pesos (USD$1,844 on the current exchange rate) .

These employees are given wages and benefits regardless of changes in the current labor regime, which states that new employees have to give up a percentage of their income for their retirement.

The increase in the number of retired workers from the state-owned oil company has been such (with a rate of 40% in the last six years), that the company is close to having one pensioner for each active worker.

Up until July 2018 , according to the financial statements of the oil company sent to the Mexican Stock Exchange , the number of active workers was of 128,505, against 107,249 retirees .

The cost of both wage types is also matching: During the first eight months of the year, active workers cost the company 57.77 billion pesos , while wage costs for pensioners rose to 40.44 billion , according to an assessment conducted by the Ministry of Finance .

This year, the oil company has been assigned 63.87 billion pesos for pensioners and retirees , which is higher than the 53.79 billion that were assigned last year .

In 2018 , according to the subdirectorate of Labor Relations and Personnel Services , 60 of the retirees were drivers and bill collectors .

The long list of workers who are currently looking to enjoy the benefits of retirement includes doctors, surgeons, technicians, operators, firemen, hospital assistants, gatekeepers, plant supervisors, guards, drill helpers, technical assistance workers, laborers, and seamen, among others .

There were very few high officials, including five assistant managers, 17 managers, five superintendents, a hospital director, and an operations manager .

Information provided by PEMEX suggests that, during the past six years, the government implemented a strategy for staff reduction which consisted of an invitation for workers to enjoy the benefits of retirement.

Most of the retired workers are from the PEMEX headquarters in Mexico City, with a total of 32,471 employees

, including unionized and trust workers.

AMLO’s Austerity Law may not apply to PEMEX officials

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