ATHENS – Greece’s New Democracy government is reportedly looking at a German model to avoid layoffs because of the fallout of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic but it will mean pay cuts and fewer working hours.

Germany uses a so-called Kurzabeit scheme that is a type of part-time or rotating employment that will provide some work but less pay, adding another obstacle to the government’s plan to bring back an economy that was just starting to recover faster from a near decade-long economic and austerity crisis when the virus hit.

The government has given an 800-euro ($874.59) one-time benefit to workers temporarily laid off during a lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of the virus but there’s no word on whether all will be brought back as the shutdown is gradually being lifted this month.

The Κurzarbeit model lets businesses and employers cut work hours in half – and pay the same – with the state so far covering 60 percent of the 50 percent loss. That means workers overall will lose 20 percent of their salaries, bringing back the nightmare of austerity.

The aim of the job subsidy plan is to prevent lay-offs once the initial 45-day suspension ends, as well as to avoid possible cuts in wages which would further undercut the economy, said the business newspaper Naftemporiki.