"The hardship recognition program was developed in response to requests from our employees and will allow those award covered employees who are experiencing hardship to transition to alternative employment with a financial safety net," a Holden spokeswoman said.
"Our move to an alternating crew arrangement was all about protecting jobs in a tough economic environment ahead of next year's introduction of our new fuel-efficient small car. While Holden does not want to see skilled employees leave the industry, offering this program is the right thing to do for people who have contributed so much to our business."
Holden announced during summer a cost cutting plan as it struggles to cope with the recession. The company hasn't provided the number of employees to be let go but mentioned that around 200 workers will leave the company through a voluntary redundancy scheme.
"We're offering voluntary packages within some of our functions, primarily office-based functions at our Port Melbourne headquarters," Holden spokesman Scott Whiffin told The Age in August. "Some of these functions have remained more or less untouched over the years as we've gone down to one shift out at our Elizabeth plant, as export and engineering projects have come and gone, and as our domestic markets have contracted."
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