Pay Dispute Disrupts Production at Slovenia’s Gorenje

“Today, some of the workers didn't start work, talks with the social partners are ongoing from this morning,” the company said in a Wednesday filing with the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE).

“Due to the fact, that in the first months in the autumn the orders have shown a sign of increase, Gorenje is staring to increase also the production,“ the statement said, adding that the company will revert to a 40-hour working week as of October 1 after shortening working hours earlier this year on flagging demand.

Gorenje turned to a net loss of 18 million euro ($26.4 million) in the first half of 2009 from a 8.151 million euro net profit a year earlier.

Shares of Gorenje were trading at an average price of 11.50 euro ($16.9) by 0846 GMT on Wednesday, up from 11.20 euro at their close a day earlier.

($ = 0.6802 euro)