The government has agreed to allow furlough in a bid to keep unemployment figures in check. During furlough, employees get 75% of their regular monthly wage and the state pays part of this wage and exempts employees and employers from paying social security.
Boc told lawmakers furlough measures allowed in 2009 helped about 5,500 employers and avoided the sacking of 260,000 people.
The prime minister said recently the government would pass a decree regulating furlough effective as of February 1. Furlough measures will be approved in a Cabinet meeting Friday.
Cartel Alfa union leader Bogdan Hossu said recently the government spent RON300 million on furlough measures in 2009 and about one million people benefited from the measure. Unionists have picketed the Finance Ministry for the past week calling on the government to allow furlough and help people keep their jobs.