Maersk Group's rig division, Maersk Drilling, will fire up to 140 employees in Norway as a result of expiring contracts.

This is according to the website of Norwegian union Maersk Ansattes Forening (Maersk Employee's Union).

The justification for the layoffs of over 100 employees is that the drilling contract for Maersk Gallant will expire in the fall, while the contract for Maersk Inspirer will expire at the end of the end of 2016. Both were employed by customers in Norway.

The union also stated that 150 Norwegian Maersk Drilling employees lost their jobs in 2015, while 70 employees were fired during the Spring of 2016.

This was in response to a number of inactive Maersk Drilling rigs, which are idle as a result of the sharp downturn in the oil sector.

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