Isaac Regional Council says it wants to know how many of the 230 job cuts from BMA’s Saraji coal mine will come from the local community.
Mayor Anne Baker said there was a high level of concern as to how many permanent residents would be affected by BMA’s decision to slash its workforce.
"Council has not yet been informed how many permanent versus non-permanent residents have been affected and we are keenly watching this space," Baker said.
"Of course, any reduction in employment is a blow to confidence – particularly when our region has recently witnessed workforce reductions."
BMA announced the cuts after a recent review of staff determined employee numbers were too high.
"BMA has made a number of changes across its operations to reduce costs and increase productivity in order to ensure that our operations are profitable and sustainable," BMA Asset President Lucas Dow said.
However the small community is calling for transparency.
Moranbah Traders Association president Trehan Stenton said the major concern for the region was which workers the job cuts would affect.
"What we are trying to get clarity on is the impact of the workforce – whether the job losses will be of residential staff or FIFO," Stenton said.
"I think people are worried – there is a degree of nervousness around what is happening.”
A worker at the coal mine who talked to the Central Telegraph said more than 50 people had already been advised they were no longer required.
"At least 50 staff – supervisors, engineers, admin – will go from the site," he said.
"We are (Enterprise Agreement) workers – they won't tell us a number with how many of us will go.”
The man said morale on the site was low.
"It's a bit anxious, I suppose," he said.
"It is not good for a group as a whole when you suddenly declare a few will have to go."
Meanwhile University of Queensland psychology Professor Jolanda Jetten said waiting to find out if they had a job or not could have serious mental impacts on workers.
"I would imagine that at this stage it is concerns about who will be losing their job – will it be them or their colleague?" Jetten said.
"It can be very divisive, when people start comparing themselves to others, evaluating on skills and knowledge and trying to find out where they stand.”