Coal workers to go on 3-day strike against planned provident funds merger

Also ask for end to contractual system, withdrawal of coal mines closure, lifting overtime pay cap

Five trade unions at top coal producers in India will go on a three-day strike in June to protest against a proposed merger of the coal miners' provident fund with the employees' provident fund, they said.

The unions, which claim they represent more than 400,000 coal mine workers, also called for an end to the contractual system for appointment of labourers, withdrawal of the decision to close coal mines and lifting the cap on overtime payment.

Barring those on emergency duty, all workers will join the strike, Rajendra Prasad Singh of the Indian National Trade Union Congress said.

India, which has over 60 million tonnes in coal stockpiles, predominantly produces thermal coal to serve its power plants, that are currently stocked sufficiently.

State-owned Coal India, which accounts for 84 per cent of the country's coal production, produced 1.42 tonnes of coal per day in June last year.

Coal India and Singareni Coal officials were not immediately available for comment, while a coal ministry spokesman declined to comment.