Political leaders in Greece have reportedly agreed on most of the austerity measures demanded by its creditors.
They are now eyeing pension and wage cuts to find the final €1.5 billion of savings still needed.
Greece must find savings worth €11.5bn for 2013 and 2014 to satisfy its lenders who are currently on a visit to Athens to evaluate the country's progress.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's government last week managed to draw up a list of measures to achieve those savings.
However, the three parties in his conservative-led administration failed to agree on them and are to due to resume talks tomorrow.
A source said the leaders do not disagree on anything but there are alternative proposals being discussed to protect those with low pensions or incomes in the public sector.
Greek media has reported that the country's leaders are discussing possible layoffs of contractors in the public sector, a cap on pensions, cuts in welfare benefits, reductions in tax exemptions, and lower salaries for public employees as well as raising the retirement age by a year to make up for the shortfall in savings.
With a decision on a new tranche of aid to Greece not expected until September, the country's already dire financial position appears to be getting increasingly precarious.
"The fact that we have not received the agreed aid instalments has put pressure on our cash reserves. Until then, we are taking extra care in managing our cash," Deputy Finance Minister Christos Staikouras told Real News weekly.
The Troika of EU, European Central Bank and IMF lenders is due to wrap up its visit to Athens in the coming days and return in September to complete its assessment of whether Greece deserves more aid.
A fifth year of recession, record unemployment levels, and repeated waves of austerity cuts have fuelled growing anger towards the Troika and the austerity medicine it has insisted on.
