Coal India arm terms workers strike illegal, to deduct 8-days of wages

Coal workers affiliated to five trade unions had gone on strike from July 2-4.

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a Coal India arm, has ordered eight days wage deduction for workers who went on a three-day strike last week to protest against the government's decision to open the coal sector for private players.

The company in a notice termed the three-day strike by workers from July 2-4 as "illegal".

"It is noted that the employees...have participated in this illegal strike, which is violation of rule 26.10 of the certified standing orders of the MCL. In view of this misconduct on their part, eight days wage deduction as per section 20 of the Code on Wages Act, 2019,