Pantelis Kapsis (File photo)

The government insists civil servants are not in danger of mass redundancies, despite intense pressure from EU-IMF debt inspectors to cut state payroll costs.

 

Government spokesman Pantelis Kapsis said the country remains committed to axing 150,000 positions through a hiring freeze, but did not rule out sacking if the measure is unsuccessful.

 

"In the view of staff cuts of 150,000, it can be achieved through attrition and hiring restraints. That is our aim," Kapsis said in interviews with private Vima radio and Skai television.

 

"There is no immediate question of redundancies". Debt inspectors made their first explicit reference to redundancies in a new list of demands to the government, needed for eurozone countries and private creditors to push though massive new debt deals.

 

The inspectors, who met with Employment Minister Yiorgos Koutroumanis, are also pressing for swift reductions in private sector pay, arguing that the country could not become more competitive without them. (Athens News/gw)