Bhubaneswar / New Delhi: Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) on Tuesday organised a comprehensive, day-long workshop on the “Way Forward for Implementation of New Labour Codes in Coal India”, bringing together senior human resource leaders from across Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries. The workshop was held in Bhubaneswar and focused on strategies for effective compliance, policy alignment, and phased rollout of the new labour legislation across the coal sector.
Focus on Compliance and Sector-Wide Rollout
The event served as a common platform to deliberate on the operational and administrative implications of the new labour codes and to ensure uniform implementation across Coal India and its subsidiary companies. Discussions centred on aligning HR practices, statutory compliance mechanisms, and workforce management policies with the new legal framework.
Leadership Addresses Set the Tone
The workshop began with a welcome address by Mr. Keshav Rao, Director (HR), MCL, who underscored the importance of preparedness and coordination among subsidiaries for the smooth adoption of the labour codes.
Dr. Vinay Ranjan, Director (HR), Coal India Limited, delivered the opening address, setting the tone for in-depth discussions on the impact of the new labour codes on industrial relations, employee welfare, and organisational compliance. He highlighted the need for proactive planning and shared learning across subsidiaries.
Participation from HR Heads of Coal India Subsidiaries
The workshop witnessed participation from Directors (HR) of all major Coal India subsidiaries, including:
- Mr. H.N. Mishra – Central Coalfields Limited (CCL)
- Mr. Manish Kumar – Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL)
- Mr. Biranchi Das – South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL)
- Mr. Gunjan Kumar Sinha – Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL)
- Mr. Hemant Sharad Pandey – Western Coalfields Limited (WCL)
Mr. Goutam Banerjee, Executive Director (HR), Coal India Limited, also played a key role in the proceedings and presented the overall rollout plan of Coal India for the implementation of the new labour codes.
Expert Insights on Labour Codes
The technical sessions were enriched by expert inputs from Dr. T.K. Panda, former Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Retd.), who provided detailed insights into the practical implications of the new labour codes on industry policies, statutory compliance, and employer–employee relations.
Additional perspectives were shared by Mr. Sankar Nagachari, Director (Tech/CRD), CMPDIL, and Dr. Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, former Director (HR), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). Participants from various subsidiaries also contributed their views, making the discussions interactive and solution-oriented.
Subsidiaries Share Implementation Progress
Following Coal India’s central presentation, each subsidiary outlined its current status and preparedness for implementing the labour codes. The exchange of updates helped identify common challenges, best practices, and areas requiring coordinated action.
About Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL)
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, is one of the major coal-producing companies in India, operating primarily in Odisha. Headquartered in Sambalpur, MCL plays a crucial role in meeting the country’s energy requirements and is known for its focus on operational efficiency, human resource development, and statutory compliance.
