Ankara, Feb 23 : Turkey has launched a temporary salary support scheme and banned job cuts in southern provinces hit by the devastating February 6 earthquakes that killed over 42,000 people in the country as well as in Neighbouring Syria, an official gazette said.

Turkey launched a temporary wage support scheme and banned layoffs in 10 cities on Wednesday to protect workers and businesses from the financial impact of the massive earthquakes that hit the south of the country earlier this month. The moves are part of the Turkish government’s steps to minimise the economic impact of Turkey’s worst earthquake in modern history that left tens of thousands dead.