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The Meta department is home to the lion’s share of oil production in Colombia, which local leaders say make it dependent on the industry and vulnerable to drops in the final price of a barrel. Some are calling for the government to contribute more to agricultural industries to compensate.

A survey of experts and managers involved in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs said that Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) is both the most visible proponent of CSR, and also the most respected.

The USO took to its favorite targets last week: eliminating outsourcing of workers in Ecopetrol and returning the Rubiales field to the NOC.

The Minister of Environment (MinAmbiente) Gabriel Vallejo detailed a plan to offer payments to individuals who desist in illegal forestry and mining activities and instead take care of the environment.

Ecopetrol detailed figures that illustrate the impact that the Barrancabermeja Refinery maintenance work has made on local hiring positions, while Equion says it is the first hydrocarbons company to receive certification for its labor practices. These and other stories in our periodic round up of Company Social Responsibility (CSR) reports.

Colombians will not see a drop in prices at the pump for gasoline and diesel since politicians will tack on excess taxes to compete for lost oil fiscal revenue, which the union says is illegal.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) announced hiring trends of its contractors over the last three months, and said that of the nearly 30,000 posts generated, 90% of them went to local labor.

A constitutional reform stalls in the Senate, while the number of critics of the royalty system in Colombia’s congress grows, with a number of lawmakers taking a harsher tone against the national government. These and other royalty related stories in our periodic summary.

The Labor Ministry (MinTrabajo) has published a resolution that defines the list of municipalities where special requirements for local hiring will be implemented through a decree published in October.

Finding skilled laborers with advanced studies in areas that benefit the mining and energy sector remains a challenge, despite improvements at the university level in specialized degree programs, says a press report.