A large number of the workers of the Arsenal military plant in the central Bulgarian city of Kazanlak have been sent on forced leave because of lack of orders.

Some 2000-3000 employees of the plant's total staff of 5500 have been sent home, many of them on unpaid leave because their paid leave had been depleted.

The remaining part of the staff of Arsenal Kazanlak switched to a 4-hour workday regime about a week ago.

The management of the plant decided to send on leave mostly workers living in the nearby villages so as to not make them spend money to travel to work for a reduced workday.

Atanas Bozov, head of the trade union unit at the plant, explained that the measure had been adopted as a temporary solution in a bid to avoid staff cuts.

He voiced hopes that the plant would secure an order soon so as to provide work for all employees of the arms manufacturer.