Strikes hit Greece as lawmakers debate new reforms
Services faced disruptions nationwide
15 January, 19:47The new reforms include tougher conditions for unions to call strikes, speedier property foreclosures and limitations on family benefits. They are key for Greece to receive further bailout funds. Labor unions strongly oppose the provisions on strikes, which require a higher turnout for local level unions to be able to decide on industrial action.
The package is expected to be approved late Monday by lawmakers from the governing left-led coalition, although opposition parties have rejected it. The austerity bill is considered to be potentially the last major package of spending cuts and reforms before Greece formally ends its bailout program in August. The country has depended on emergency loans from three successive bailouts, funded mainly by other eurozone members, since 2010 after it lost the ability to raise money on international bond markets. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said approval of the proposed measures will bring Greece "just one step from the end of the bailout". (ANSA-AP).