October 07, 2008

CIL SECL to undertake limited outsourcing

Coal India Limited’s South Eastern Coalfields Limited has stressed that outsourcing of mining will end after the contracted 3 year period and even during this time regular workers will work for the contractors. SECL's decision has prompted the trade unions to call off their 16 day agitation against outsourcing.

Mr Radheyshyam Singh director personnel of SECL said that it would have to increase production to meet the increasing demand for coal. He added that "To attain the expanded production target, the process of purchasing shovels of 42 cubic meter capacity and dumpers of 240 tonne capacity is going on. The outsourcing period will not be extended after the machinery arrives here and the prescribed 3 year period of overburden removal through outsourcing ends."

Mr Singh said that regular employees will remove overburden with the help of the new machinery, till such time as the supply can catch up with the demand. The contract labor would be paid the difference between the state's rates for contract labor and SECL's scales for category I employees. He added that "This scheme is being implemented from April 1st 2008."