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| Greek parliament to vote on civil service job cuts | Greek parliament to vote on civil service job cuts |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Greek parliament will vote on Sunday on proposals which would see 15,000 state employees lose their jobs by the end of next year. | The Greek parliament will vote on Sunday on proposals which would see 15,000 state employees lose their jobs by the end of next year. |
| The bill is part of continuing moves by the centre-right government to cut costs and ensure more bailout money from international creditors. | The bill is part of continuing moves by the centre-right government to cut costs and ensure more bailout money from international creditors. |
| The law is a condition for Greece to receive the next tranche of loans worth 8.8bn euros (£7.4bn; $11.4bn). | The law is a condition for Greece to receive the next tranche of loans worth 8.8bn euros (£7.4bn; $11.4bn). |
| Hundreds of people joined a protest in the streets outside parliament. | |
| Although debate on the measure began on Sunday morning, a vote was not expected until midnight. | Although debate on the measure began on Sunday morning, a vote was not expected until midnight. |
| The new law would overturn what had been a constitutional guarantee for civil servants of a job for life, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. | The new law would overturn what had been a constitutional guarantee for civil servants of a job for life, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. |
| The sector has been seen as notoriously bloated since it expanded in the 1970s and '80s as successive administrations employed their own people, our correspondent adds. | The sector has been seen as notoriously bloated since it expanded in the 1970s and '80s as successive administrations employed their own people, our correspondent adds. |
| Some 2,000 civil servants will lose their jobs by the end of June, reports Kathimerini newspaper. | Some 2,000 civil servants will lose their jobs by the end of June, reports Kathimerini newspaper. |
| 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. | 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. |
| So the law would not slim down the public sector, our correspondent says. 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. | So the law would not slim down the public sector, our correspondent says. 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. |
| Divisions | Divisions |
| 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 increase Greece's already high unemployment rate of 27%. | Critics say the law, which is part of a larger package of measures, will increase Greece's already high unemployment rate of 27%. |
| The conservative coalition, led by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, has 167 seats in the 300-seat parliament so the measure is thought likely to pass. | The conservative coalition, led by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, has 167 seats in the 300-seat parliament so the measure is thought likely to pass. |
| However, there are reports of divisions within his government on some issues and there is speculation he could reshuffle his ministerial team soon. | However, there are reports of divisions within his government on some issues and there is speculation he could reshuffle his ministerial team soon. |
| Eurozone finance ministers are expected to decide on the next instalment of aid for debt-ridden Greece at a meeting on 16 May. | Eurozone finance ministers are expected to decide on the next instalment of aid for debt-ridden Greece at a meeting on 16 May. |
| Since 2010, the European Union and the IMF have promised more than 200bn euros in lending for Greece, the first country to be hit by the eurozone crisis. | Since 2010, the European Union and the IMF have promised more than 200bn euros in lending for Greece, the first country to be hit by the eurozone crisis. |
| The government has imposed tough austerity measures in return for aid, including cuts in pay and pensions leading to numerous general strikes. | The government has imposed tough austerity measures in return for aid, including cuts in pay and pensions leading to numerous general strikes. |