Greek lawmakers passed a bill including plans to fire 15,000workers by the end of next year as the government of Prime MinisterAntonis Samaras cleared the latest hurdle to receivinginternational aid payments.

A total of 168 lawmakers voted in favor of the law, 123 againstand one cast a “present” vote, Parliament Speaker Yannis Tragakissaid in remarks carried live on state-run Vouli TV after aroll-call vote.

Greece's government and international creditors reached anagreement on conditions to receive more aid, including firing stateworkers and extending a property tax paid through electricity billsfor another year, on April 15, paving the way for the disbursementof the 2.8 billion euros ($3.7 billion) remaining from a previousreview. Final approval for the payment of the tranche by the euroarea is due today, according to Finance Minister YannisStournaras.

A group of about 1,000 protesters rallied outside Parliament inAthens while the vote was held to protest against the bill. It'sthe first time the Greek government has agreed to dismiss workersemployed by the state.

Identifying redundant positions and adopting a system that willlead to mandatory exits for about 150,000 civil servants by 2015 isa requirement of the euro area and IMF, which have pledged a totalof 240 billion euros to Greece over the past three years.Stournaras said April 16 the public sector workforce will declineby 160,000 people by 2015, meeting the minimum required.

Samaras told his Cabinet last week that outstanding issues toreceive the next tranche of 6 billion euros in three weeks' timeare being completed. Greece is expecting approval for that paymenton May 13, Stournaras said on April 27, to be able to pay a bondheld by the European Central Bank which matures on May 20.

More than three years after revealing that Greece had misled itseuro partners on the state of its finances, the nation remainsreliant on loans from the euro area and the IMF to pay pensions andwages. To qualify for payments, Greece has to continue meetingeconomic targets.

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