ZAGREB (Croatia), January 13 (SeeNews) - The Croatian government will provide 160 million kuna ($25.7 million/21.1 million euro) to protect jobs at companies in Sisak-Moslavina county, which was hit by a devastating earthquake in late December, labour minister Josip Aladrovic said.

The job retention scheme will be available for the following two months, Aladrovic said in a statement on Tuesday.

There are 1,250 firms that employ a total of 8,800 people in the Sisak-Moslavina county, according to the statement.

In addition, the ministry of economy will finance the rehabilitation of the offices of small and nedium-sized enterprises in the regions affected by the earthquake by providing 10 million kuna, economy minister Tomislav Coric said in the same statement. 

A 6.2-magnitude quake hit the town of Petrinja on December 29, causing significant damage to buildings and leaving seven dead. 

(1 euro = 7.5776 kuna)