Dark days for coal industry as glut worsens

Zhang Fan, a former gauger with a coal company in south-central Hebei province's Yuanshi county, decided he needed a new job after having his salary more than halved to around 2,000 yuan ($323).

The salary cut was the result of a severe overcapacity in China's coal production, and a gloomy economy leading to shrinking industrial demand, which has left 80 percent of domestic coal companies languishing in the red.

Zhang, who declined to name his previous employer, said he used to make more than 5,000 yuan a month plus a year-end bonus based on performance.