Greece has adopted a new law that allows 15 thousand civil servants to be dismissed from their jobs, as part of austerity measures.

The legislation will overturn an earlier guarantee that protected workers in the notoriously bloated state sector in Greece.

It provides for the dismissal of th workers by the end of 2014, which will see 4,000 go this year.

The move is part of conditions as part of an EU/IMF bailout package.

The bill was passed after a heated debate in Parliament, with 800 people protesting outside.

The unemployment rate in Greece currently stands at 27 per cent.