Rio Tinto is supporting its fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce with compensation for every hour they are delayed travelling home from the major’s Australian operations.
Under the new policy, Rio workers at the Paraburdoo iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia will be compensated for flights delayed over four hours with $500, and over 12 hours with $1000.
Thousands of employees are set to benefit from the policy.
The major has also reviewed its training allowance policy for on-the-job trainers and seen fit to increase it 33 per cent annually from $5600 to $7500.
As well as supporting its FIFO workers, Rio has invested heavily in the Paraburdoo township.
Last year, Rio delivered a $20 million package to the WA Government earmarked for a major redevelopment of the Paraburdoo Hospital.
The spend made up a portion of $17.7 billion Rio injected into the Australian economy in 2024.
The major also supporting local Pilbara manufacturing with the recent construction of its first locally made iron ore rail car.
Rio is investing up to $150 million to purchase 100 locally built rail cars, as well as continued investment in bearing refurbishment for its Pilbara operations.
“We want to support local business and create new economic opportunities in the communities where we operate,” Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott said.
In the Pilbara region, Rio owns and operates an integrated network of 17 mines, four independent port terminals and a rail network spanning nearly 2000km.
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