The regional Labor Office in Prešov confirmed on October 28 that it will provide the shoemaker JAS Inc., Bardejov, with a zero-interest loan worth 97.8 million Sk over 5 years. The loan will be extended gradually over the next 12 months, and it will cover all labor costs for JAS's 1,147 employees. The massive layoff of 2,000 employees, the three-month notice of which expired on October 31, will therefore not take place. Layoffs, however, will only affect 500 employees.
The company's next step is to transform itself into a healthy company. This, they hope to do through decentralization which would create four daughter companies (JAS Východ, Export, Obuv and Elmont). Management expects JAS to be included in the revitalization program and plans to ask the government for higher protection on the domestic market.
