Pertamina workers union rejects new oil and gas law

The employees union of the Balikpapan office of the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina in East Kalimantan protested the new oil and gas law, arguing it would lead to foreign companies to control the country?s oil and gas sector, the local Kaltim Post daily reported Thursday.

The union sent a protest letter to the Speaker of the People?s Consultative Assembly (MPR), the country?s highest legislative body, saying that the new law would also cause losses to the people.

The parliament had recently approved the government proposed new oil and gas law which aims at liberalizing the oil and gas sector, and end the monopoly status of Pertamina.(*)