11.   The stock market was sliding, securities firms were laying people off and financial firestorms were sweeping through Asia, Russia and Latin America.

12.   The firm has laid off thousands of workers.

13.   It would also assume the onus of providing medical care and retirement benefits for workers that the firms have laid off, the newspaper said.

14.   Many firms laid on free breakfasts to prevent absenteeism while others simply gave staff time off.

15.   Many firms laid on free breakfasts to prevent absenteeism.

16.   Meanwhile, the two giant mining firms have laid off most of their employees.