1.   Parliament is in session to consider a layoff bill.

2.   But the labor unions, accustomed to decades of lifetime employment, have resisted the layoff bill.

3.   Government officials are confident the layoff bill will be passed by Parliament this month with bipartisan support.

4.   Parliament opened a special session Thursday to consider a layoff bill proposed by the government.

5.   The layoff bill before Parliament would apply only to financial institutions.

6.   The layoff bill had bipartisan support.

7.   There was no immediate reaction from militant labor unions that have threatened to call nationwide strikes in auto and other key industries if the parliament approved the layoff bill.

8.   They had been threatening nationwide strikes if a layoff bill went to Parliament without their consent.

9.   Workers accepted the layoff bill in exchange for more union freedoms and financial benefits.