Deutsche Welle reports that around 250 employees of Germany's Federal Printing Works demonstrated in front of Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank, in Frankfurt on Tuesday.

The protest came as the Bundesbank considers outsourcing the printing of German euro notes to printers outside Germany.

According to the German union Verdi, 180 jobs in Berlin are on the line. Meanwhile, close to 400 jobs at Giesecke & Devrient, a supplier of banknote paper with offices in Munich and Leipzig, are also at risk.

The union said the decision would also jeopardise research and development work worth millions of euros.

The Bundesbank has said it's required by German and European law to advertise the tender EU-wide.

The printing contract has been tendered across the European Union attracting interest from printers in France and the Netherlands; Giesecke & Devrient has only been awarded a part of the contract.

The awarding of the contract, initially expected 2 August, has been delayed as the Federal Cartel Office investigates the matter. A final decision is expected by the end of the month.