The term ‘stood down’ means to cease production/work or go off duty. It means that the employer deducts pay from the employee at times where they cannot be employed due to stoppages at work – such as break down of machinery, industrial action/disputes, no resources etc. So in context of the statement you provided, it mean that employees are being asked to leave work for a minimum of 4 weeks by the employer without pay.I was writing my economics notes when I came across this," people who have stood down without pay for atleast four weeks", it was in the Tim Dixon hsc text book under people who are part of the labour force. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what it meant.