Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California has given an executive order for some state workers to take three unpaid days off per month starting in August.

The furlough system has been reintroduced by Mr Schwarzenegger in an effort to address the $19 billion budget deficit in the state.

The order will force a number of state government offices to close for certain periods as workers take an effective pay cut of around 14 percent.

The latest furlough order will affect about 156,000 of the state's 237,000 workers, causing state offices to close on the second, third and fourth Fridays of the month.

The first furlough is scheduled for Friday, August 13th.

Earlier this week, the governor hinted that he would not sign a new budget before he leaves office next January, unless pension, tax and spending reforms are included.

He has said: "Our cash situation leaves me no choice but to once again furlough state workers until the Legislature produces a budget I can sign."