The government has asked the European Union to invest €600,000 in a project to lessen the effect of 650 job losses at building company Heijmans, news agency ANP reports on Tuesday.

Heijmans said in January it would have to cut the jobs because of the effect of the recession on the construction sector. The money will be used to set up a training centre to help workers retrain and find other jobs.
Brussels changed the rules covering its €500m globalisation fund in June because of the crisis. To qualify for help, companies must expect to cut at least 500 jobs over a nine month period. Applications for help must be submitted via the social affairs ministry.