NMDC Faces Production Slowdown Amid Worker Protests

The state-owned iron ore producer NMDC Limited is struggling with a slowdown in operations due to worker protests, the company announced Tuesday, March 11.

In practice, the protests, which are organized by trade unions, take the form of a “work-to-rule” strategy, in which workers strictly adhere to official protocols to avoid going above and beyond, resulting in diminished output while refraining from full closure. The protests are part of a months-long dispute over workers’ wages and are in response to a settlement with the company.

Consequently, NHMC has witnessed a 30-40 percent decrease in daily production at its major iron ore mining complexes located in Kirandul, Bacheli and Donimalai. Despite the disruptions, the company assured stakeholders that all of its assets were completely insured and that the strike had not yet had a material financial impact.

NMDC has been making efforts to resolve the matter and the conciliation proceedings are fixed before the Chief Labour Commissioner in New Delhi on March 17, 2025. The results of these conversations may set the direction of future operations.

Although the protests have greatly affected output, NMDC is committed to resolving the matter and resuming regular production levels at the earliest.