Mudgee has shown it is not immune to the mining industry downturn with an announcement that about 25 full-time positions will go from Moolarben Coal before Christmas.
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The Mudgee Guardian was informed on Wednesday that all staff at Moolarben Coal were called in to meetings on Monday and told the news. Staff were also provided letters explaining the company restructure.
Among the 25 employees proposed to go are three mine operators and four trades staff at the open cut mine; 10 technician positions from the coal handling and preparation plant; and about eight supervisory and support staff.
Yancoal, owners of Moolarben Coal, has also reviewed contractors on-site and reduced their numbers where possible.
Final numbers are subject to an employee consultation process which ends on Wednesday, November 5. Moolarben Coal will also be consulting with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and other bodies on behalf of their members.
A statement from Yancoal on Wednesday said the restructure would “help ensure the economic competitiveness and viability of the mine.”
“The restructure follows a comprehensive review of the business in response to ongoing market challenges, including increasing operating cost pressures, low coal prices and the impacts of a high exchange rate,” a Yancoal spokesman said on Wednesday.
“Moolarben Coal Operations is committed to keeping its people and key stakeholders informed throughout the process.
“MCO will also take steps to identify employment opportunities and, where it is reasonable in all circumstances, to redeploy employees who are identified for compulsory redundancy, to any available positions within MCO or its associated entities in the Yancoal Ltd group.”
NSW opposition slammed the state government on Wednesday for “failing to take action to stop the Central West’s growing jobs crisis.”
Centennial Coal announced on Tuesday it would be mothballing its Angus Place Colliery in Lithgow, resulting in the loss of more than 160 direct jobs and potentially a further 100 jobs dependent on redeployment to other mines in the area.
A joint press release from state shadow ministers said in the past year, 9900 jobs have been lost in the Central West according to Australian Bureau of Statistics regional employment figures.
