BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 09/06/2025: Weeks after our initial investigative report, "Brunei Oil Exit," stirred national awareness, a second wave of concern is quietly emerging.
The departure of over 200 employees from Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), along with additional retrenchments by several key contractors, is triggering a reckoning that extends beyond company walls.
In coffee shops, WhatsApp groups, and on TikTok, Bruneians are piecing together the implications.
Quiet layoffs, golden handshakes, and unannounced contract terminations are no longer mere whispers—they have transformed into public anxiety.
According to multiple industry insiders, at least 10 to 15 per cent of staff in some oil and gas firms are being quietly reduced.
While BSP presents its cost-cutting measures as strategic OPEX reductions, the human impact is anything but subtle.
An anonymous engineer characterised the so-called "mutual separation scheme" as a velvet-glove layoff: "They called it a golden handshake, but to many of us, it felt more like a gentle shove."
Employees offered exit packages reportedly received compensation equivalent to up to 24 months' salary, depending on their seniority and years of service.
Although the packages are financially appealing, many are left questioning their future in an economy with limited job creation.
For some, the offer was difficult to decline. Rising living costs and family obligations made a lump sum payout seem like a welcome relief. Yet, what happens when the money runs out?
Industry veterans caution that this exodus is not an isolated incident.
Several firms within the oil and gas supply chain are also implementing significant reductions, downsizing teams as upstream activities stagnate.
This situation transcends a simple human resources narrative; it reflects a structural upheaval in Brunei’s largest economic pillar.
Oil has long represented stability - now, it signifies both transition and growing uncertainty.
Some experts view these changes as a necessary step in BSP’s drive for efficiency.
“You need to offload excess baggage, or the ship will sink,” noted one consultant.
However, amidst global price volatility - Brent crude recently fluctuating between USD 60 and 65, with signs of pressure - and increasing competition from regional producers, questions about Brunei’s resilience arise.
The government’s long-standing partnership with Shell, renewed in 2019, is set to expire in 2039.
As national ambitions for economic diversification lag, public anxiety intensifies.
TikTok videos analysing the oil layoffs have gone viral, with young professionals and students expressing disbelief and concern.
One TikTok user lamented, “What’s the point of studying engineering if you’ll end up redundant at 30?” - a sentiment echoed across comment threads. Brunei’s changing demographic profile adds complexity to the situation.
An increasing number of graduates are entering a contracting job market, making the oil sector's downturn more than just symbolic; it is systemic.
“What’s our Plan B?” questioned one LinkedIn user.
"We need to know where we’re heading, or people will keep leaving."
As public trust erodes, many are turning to social media to demand answers. This follow-up report continues to track the quiet exits - and the louder questions they raise. (MHO/06/2025)
Editor’s Note: This is the second instalment in a special series following our widely read report, "Brunei Oil Exit," which garnered thousands of views and extensive public commentary online.
Disclaimer: This report reflects public sentiment and analysis based on publicly available and anonymised sources. It does not represent any formal position or allegation against named or unnamed entities.
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