Prime Minister Mario Monti will impose a plan to ease firingrules, risking strikes and protests, as he seeks an overhaul ofItaly's labor markets to fuel the economic growth needed to trimEurope's second-biggest debt.

Monti told unions and employers last night in Rome there wouldbe no more discussion of his plan to allow companies more leeway tofire workers when economic times turn bad. The government may passthe measure by decree, meaning the plan would be enactedimmediately before securing parliamentary passage.

The labor overhaul marks Monti's fourth legislative push sincecoming to power in November to shore up public finances and spur aneconomy that's lagged behind the euro-region average for more thana decade. His efforts, plus unlimited lending by the EuropeanCentral Bank, have helped Italian bonds gain 13 percent this year,the biggest advance in the euro area.