MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Russian energy giant Gazprom said it increased its staff in the third quarter by 10.5 percent and raised salaries for top managers amid an economic crisis.
The gas monopoly said it increased its staff at its headquarters in Moscow by close to 600, bringing the total number to 6,222. Meanwhile, salaries for the company's top managers increased by 5 percent, Barents Observer said Monday.
Gazprom spends around $6.38 million on employee salaries and expenses per quarter. The company said in October it was feeling the effects of the global financial collapse, asking the government for massive loans to restructure its foreign debt and investment projects.
Gazprom in July said it may cut staffing by 10 percent. The staffing increase comes as October reports on gas exports showed an 8.3 percent decline and petroleum exports were down 4.2 percent in September.
