Here, it's a real mess: many people are on strike because of the recent decisions of the government to lay off more than 20,000 people in public services.

lay 的基本意思是"放置、摆放"，但在短语中常表示"使...处于某种状态"。 off 表示"离开、脱离"的状态或方向。 lay off 是一个固定短语，意思是"解雇、裁员"，指让员工离开工作岗位。这个短语来源于让工人暂时离开(lay)工作岗位(off)的概念，后来演变为永久性解雇的意思。