ATHENS: The Greek parliament has passed a bill which will see 15,000 state employees lose their jobs by the end of next year.
The bill passed by 168 votes to 123, and had the support of the three parties making up the ruling coalition, the (BBC) reported.
It is part of continuing moves by the center-right government to cut costs and ensure more bailout money from international creditors.
But it was vociferously opposed by protesters outside parliament.
Some 2,000 civil servants will lose their jobs by the end of June, another 2,000 by the end of the year, and a further 11,000 by the end of 2014.
State workers who have broken rules will be targeted for dismissal, but many are expected to be replaced by younger employees in key sectors such as health.
However, the law will not slim down the public sector, according to the BBC. That would be achieved by a parallel plan that would see 150,000 state jobs go by the end of 2015, by replacing only some of those who retire.
The law is a condition for Greece to receive its next tranche of loans worth 8.8 billion euros.
Eurozone officials will now meet on Monday to approve the overdue release of 2.8 billion euros, said Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, according to Reuters news agency.
The remaining 6 billion euros will be paid on 13 May, he added.
As MPs debated the measures inside parliament, several hundred demonstrators outside took part in a protest called by Adedy, the civil service trade confederation, and the private sector GSEE union.
They were demonstrating against what the unions called "those politicians who are dismantling the public service and destroying the welfare state".
Critics say the law, which is part of a larger package of measures, will only add to Greece's record unemployment rate of 27%.
They say many of those who will lose their jobs are older workers already struggling to support their families and make ends meet. But others say the measures are overdue. (QNA)
