ALMOST 50 of Gujarat NRE Coking Coal’s 450 workers have finished employment at its Russell Vale and Wongawilli mines on Friday.

Chairman Jasbir Singh announced 47 people had been offered a voluntary redundancy package, after the company was forced to restructure its workforce at its two collieries.

The company planned to shed about 90 jobs, due to high production costs, unstable global markets and delayed expansion approvals.

Mr Singh said over the last three to four months considerable effort had been directed to ensuring the mines remain operational and as many jobs as possible are maintained.

The Russell Vale mine, better known locally as South Bulli, is the oldest operating underground colliery in Australia.