Norwegian aluminum-maker Norsk Hydro has ordered 600 employees at its Brazilian Alunorte alumina refinery to go on temporary holiday, in order to prevent layoffs at the plant, the company said on Friday.
Employees will leave in alternate groups for periods of ten days.
Authorities in late February ordered Hydro to cut Alunorte's output by 50 percent due to worries over spills from the plant.