The number of companies taking advantage of a government-funded scheme to temporarily lay off staff reached 849, social affairs minister Piet Hein Donner told MPs on Monday evening.

The wtv scheme closed to new entrants on March 21. In total, government help was available to help fund 20,000 full-time jobs.
Some 212 applications for help were rejected, largely because firms could not prove their turnover had gone down 30% for at least two months.
Workers who now face being laid off or a cut in hours can apply for part-time unemployment benefit.