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Government Building

The Greek parliament has ratified a contentious labor reform that enables 13-hour work shifts, despite strong resistance and nationwide protests.

The administration asserted the law will modernize Greek labor regulations, but critics from the progressive faction labeled it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Key Provisions of the New Labor Law

Under the newly enacted law, annual extra hours is limited at one hundred and fifty hours, while the regular 40-hour week stays unchanged.

Officials insists that the longer workday is optional, only applies to the private sector, and can only be used for up to thirty-seven days annually.

Parliamentary Backing and Opposition

The recent ballot was supported by lawmakers from the ruling conservative party, with the centre-left party – currently the main resistance – voting against the legislation, while the progressive party abstained.

Worker organizations have staged multiple protests calling for the law's repeal recently that halted transportation and public services to a standstill.

Official Justification and Employee Safeguards

A senior official defended the bill, saying the changes bring in line Greek laws with current employment conditions, and alleged critics of misleading the public.

The laws will give employees the option to accept extra work with the current company for 40% higher compensation, while guaranteeing they will not be dismissed for refusing overtime.

The measure complies with European Union labor regulations, which limit the mean week to 48 hours including overtime but permit flexibility over 12 months, as stated by the government.

Opposition Viewpoints and Union Reactions

But, opposition parties have accused the government of eroding employee protections and "driving the country back to a medieval work era." They say Greek workers already work longer hours than the majority of Europeans while receiving lower pay and still "face financial difficulties."

The public-sector union said flexible working hours in reality mean "the abolition of the eight-hour day, the destruction of family and social life and the authorization of over-exploitation."

Recent Labor Changes and Financial Context

Last year, the country introduced a six-day work schedule for specific sectors in a bid to stimulate the economy.

Recent legislation, which came into effect at the start of the summer, allow employees to work up to 48 hours in a workweek as instead of forty.

EU Work Data and Greek Financial Indicators

• Throughout the European Union in 2024, the longest average hours were recorded in Greece (39.8 hours), followed by Bulgaria, Poland and Romania.
• The shortest working week in the union is in the Netherlands (32.1), according to Eurostat.
• Starting January 2025, Greece's official minimum wage stood at €968 a month, ranking it in the lower tier among EU countries.
• Unemployment, which had peaked at twenty-eight percent during the economic downturn, was eight point one percent in August versus an European mean of 5.9%, data from the statistical office indicate.
• The country is improving since its prolonged financial troubles, which ended in 2018, but salaries and living standards continue to be among the lowest in the EU.