Archive · 28 Oct 2025
Singareni Coal Company Seeks Manpower Overhaul Amid Productivity Concerns
Imagine a company that digs coal called Singareni.
They have a lot of workers, but they aren't digging as much coal per worker as other similar companies.
This is happening even though they have new machines.
So, Singareni is asking expert companies to study how they use their workers and machines.
They want to figure out if they have too many people in some areas and not enough in others, or if workers need different skills.
The goal is to make sure everyone is working as efficiently as possible, using the machines well, and helping the company do better.
This is also important because the state needs more energy, and Singareni needs to stay competitive.
The company hopes to improve productivity by making sure the right people are in the right jobs and have the right skills, possibly by retraining workers or moving them to new roles, rather than firing people directly.
Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is seeking external consultants to study its workforce and optimize manpower.
The initiative aims to address low Output Per Man-Shift (OMS) compared to industry benchmarks, despite investments in mechanization.
The study will assess cadre strength, identify skill gaps, and recommend redeployment, recruitment, training, and promotion policy changes.
The move is also linked to SCCL's diversification plans into power, solar, and new energy sectors.
While management seeks efficiency, unions are reportedly wary of direct downsizing, preferring natural attrition and re-skilling.
- Who
- Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)
- What
- Invited expressions of interest (EOI) for a manpower optimization study to address productivity issues.
- When
- EOI deadline is November 10; the study will take six months.
- Where
- Across all SCCL mines and departments.
- Why
- To address a widening gap in coal output per employee and align manpower with modern operational needs and machinery utilization.
Management Perspective
Union Perspective
Workforce Optimization
Management Perspective
Aims to right-size and right-skill the workforce to align with modern operational needs, machinery utilization, and diversification plans, focusing on productivity gains.
Union Perspective
Wary of rationalization, preferring natural attrition, re-skilling, and performance incentives over direct downsizing.
- Company
- Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)
- Ownership
- Telangana Government (51%), Indian Government (49%)
- Total Employees
- Over 71,000 (including 30,000 contract workers)
- 2023-24 Coal Production
- 69.01 million tonnes
- Average Output Per Man-Shift (OMS)
- 5.41 tonnes (overall), 0.87 tonnes (underground)
- Coal India OMS (2023-24)
- 16.11 tonnes (open-cast), 1.05 tonnes (underground)
- EOI Submission Deadline
- November 10
- Study Duration
- Six months