About 3,000 Serbia workers rally against anti-crisis laws, demanding economy minister resign

Some 3,000 workers have rallied against laws that Serbian government officials say are a key to economic reform, but which could lead to further job losses in the impoverished Balkan country.

Demonstrators marching Friday in downtown Belgrade are demanding that the economy minister, Sasa Radulovic, resign and that new labor, bankruptcy and privatization laws be withdrawn.

Radulovic has insisted that the laws are necessary to restart Serbia's economy, destroyed by wars, mismanagement and corruption. The reform bills are yet to be approved in Parliament.

Unions have argued the bankruptcy law will pave the way for closing a number of state-run companies and massive job losses. They say the labor law favors company management over workers.

Experts say loss-making state companies have overburdened Serbia's economy.