The definition of a ‘calamity’ is to be widened to allow companies to cut working hours temporarily because of the financial crisis, the Volkskrant reports on Thursday.

Social affairs minister Piet Hein Donner believes the measure will help healthy companies that have seen their orders fall to bridge the gap until the economy picks up again, the paper says.
The regulations on short-time working (wtv) allows firms to cut their staff’s hours for up to six weeks – with the possibility of extending this three times to a maximum of 24 weeks – when faced with a disaster such as flood or fire.
Employees are then paid unemployment benefit (70% of salary) for the hours not worked.
1,700 workers affected
Both employers and unions have called on the government to extend the scheme to cover firms hit by the credit crisis.
So far 19 companies have applied for permission to cut working hours meaning some 1,700 workers, mostly in the light engineering sector, will be affected, the Volkskrant reports.
Donner said the wtv scheme can only be used by companies facing temporary problems. Those with structural difficulties must take other action, the paper quoted him as saying.