Greek Parliament Approves Civil Service Layoffs

Want to make sure the bailout money keeps coming

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.

It is part of continuing moves by the centre-right government to cut costs and ensure more bailout money from international creditors.

But it was vociferously opposed by protesters outside parliament.

The new law will overturn what had been a constitutional guarantee for civil servants of a job for life, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens.