Ferry services to the Greek islands will be paralysed until tomorrow as unions extended a strike against job cuts in a fresh blow to the country’s key tourism sector, port police said.

The union representing maritime workers said that a 24-hour strike would stretch for a further 48 hours after representatives of ship owners refused to hold talks on job protection.

Ferries were at anchor in the main Athens port of Piraeus as well as at ports across the country’s about 100 islands, port police said.

The strike comes as IMF and EU inspectors warned debt-hit Greece that it needed to do more to reduce spending in order to secure future rescue funds.

Greece’s tourism sector has suffered this year as a wave of strikes against austerity measures affected transport and deterred travellers.

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