State workers in Greece have called a strike Thursday to protest government plans to privatize their jobs as part of an international bailout agreement.

The work stoppage was called for the same day Prime Minister George Papandreou and his cabinet are set to meet to approve new austerity measures through 2015 that include higher taxes.

The European Union and International Monetary Fund approve a $158 billion bailout loan for Greece last year, but demanded austerity measures in return.

EU and IMF experts have been reviewing Greek progress on debt-cutting before approving the next planned $17 billion payment of the bailout package.

Athens has already said it will sell off some state-owned assets to help pay down the debt.

Opponents to any more government spending cuts have been holding daily protests across Greece.