Queensland Miner Ensham Cuts 400 Jobs

Central Queensland coal miner Ensham Resources will be cutting some 400 jobs from its coal mine operations near Emerald, west of Rockhampton to ensure business sustainability amid the continuing declining global market conditions.

Having a total workforce of 900 slots, Ensham said majority of the cuts are in the contractor positions. But more could still go in the remaining weeks or months if market conditions do not recover.

"We've reduced production by 40 per cent from a little over five million tonnes to only three million tonnes this year," Peter Westerhuis, Ensham Resources spokesman, said.

"At this point in time our forecast for next year is to stay at the current level of three million tonnes, but as I said before, if conditions continue to deteriorate then we'll have to have another review of those decisions."

"Quite frankly, if the price stays as low as it is, we will have to review further parts of the business with strong prospects of further reductions in the human resources required."

But Acting Central Highlands Mayor Gail Nixon said people will find it hard to find employment in the current scenario.

"I just hope for these people on a personal level that they can find employment somewhere else and they're not put to too much hardship in doing that," Ms Nixon said.

"It's sad to here that these people have been stood aside and the businesses will suffer, those contracting businesses, but there's probably other opportunities for them too."

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