Coal India faces pay hike stress amid tepid demand

After last revision in 2011, company's annual salary bill was raised by Rs 5,000 cr

Amidst the ongoing tepid demands for its coal which resulted in Coal India posting its worst result ever, the company is faced with a new challenge which may potentially stress its margins further by raising its expenses — workers’ and officers’ salaries needs to be revised this year.

While senior company officials are working out the means to arrange the extra income to fund the pay hike, trade unions have demanded a 50 per cent increase. Senior officials said given the demand situation, the company was not in a position to yield to union and would try to negotiate a