LABOR

Poland Plans Mine Closings: The leftist coalition government approved a plan to lose 80,000 jobs and shut down nine coal mines by 2000 to stem losses in Poland’s formerly pampered mining sector. A report published after the government’s weekly meeting said the financial health of the country’s 64 mines had “deteriorated abruptly” in 1995. Unable to adjust to the market economy, production is exceeding domestic needs and employment is running too high. Deputy Industry Minister Jerzy Markowski said employment will be reduced through retirement or retraining, not layoffs. Parliament is expected to approve the plan. The mines, located in the southern industrial center of Silesia, have debts exceeding $2 million, the report said. The government agreed to subsidize the remaining mines with $1.8 billion through 2000. About 141,000 coal miners have been laid off since 1989.