Dateline 2015-10-28, Rigzone:
With cost reduction exerting continuous pressure on petroleum firms in the current industry downturn, companies have constantly grappled with the issue of an optimum workforce to sustain their oil and gas operations.
Recent news coverage about the industry highlighted this conundrum in Malaysia, where oil firm Royal Dutch Shell plc cut local staff as part of a move globally to rein in cost, while national oil company (NOC) Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) refrained from doing so despite facing similar headwinds due to other internal considerations.
As in other petroleum producing countries, the industry downturn in Malaysia has led to a loss of around 2,000 oil and gas jobs between January and July, or nearly 30 percent of the 6,547 being laid off in the country, local daily The Star reported Sept. 26. Workers in the industry remain vulnerable to layoffs as major petroleum firms in Malaysia could include them as part of any global cuts if oil prices do not recover.
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Wata - Malaysian Oil and Gas Engineer 