Government begins to grapple with time bomb in the mining industry

Deputy Economy Minister Irena Herbst yesterday announced that the government will spend zl. 500 million on a new programme to minimize the shock of restructuring the mining industry. In a honeyed speech during her meeting with Silesian regional authorities Herbst pledged that the government would support the programme, "Using various instruments". These would include creating new jobs for 8,100 miners about to lose their jobs. "Those covered by the programme would benefit from a special packet, equivalent to their salary for nine months following their redundancy notice. This, said Herbst, would give them time to learn a new skill and look for a new job. The money for the programme will be secured through a zl. 300 million loan from an international financial institution and zl. 200 million is to come from a special public fund to be created before 2006. (Parkiet, p.1; www.rmf.pl) J.K.