Greece Passes Debated Workplace Legislation Permitting Extended Working Days in Certain Circumstances

Government Building

The Greek parliament has ratified a hotly debated work legislation that authorizes extended-length working days, in the face of widespread opposition and countrywide protests.

The administration stated the law will update Greek work laws, but opposition figures from the left-wing faction labeled it as a "regulatory disaster."

Key Provisions of the New Labor Law

According to the newly enacted legislation, yearly overtime is limited at 150 hours, while the regular forty-hour workweek remains in place.

The government maintains that the longer shift is optional, solely affects the private sector, and can exclusively be used for up to thirty-seven days annually.

Political Support and Resistance

The recent vote was backed by lawmakers from the ruling centre-right party, with the moderate party – currently the main resistance – voting against the legislation, while the left-wing party abstained.

Labor unions have organized multiple protests demanding the bill's withdrawal this month that brought public transport and services to a standstill.

Government Defense and Worker Safeguards

The Labor Minister supported the legislation, saying the changes bring in line Greek legislation with current employment realities, and alleged opposition leaders of misleading the public.

The laws will provide employees the choice to take on additional hours with the same employer for 40% higher compensation, while ensuring they will not be dismissed for declining overtime.

The measure complies with EU labor rules, which limit the average week to forty-eight hours including overtime but permit adjustments over 12 months, according to the government.

Critical Viewpoints and Union Responses

However, critics have charged the government of weakening workers' rights and "pushing the country back to a medieval work era." They argue Greek employees already put in more time than most EU citizens while earning less and still "face financial difficulties."

The public-sector union stated variable shifts in reality mean "the abolition of the eight-hour day, the disruption of family and social life and the authorization of over-exploitation."

Previous Workplace Changes and Economic Background

In 2024, Greece enacted a six-day work schedule for specific sectors in a bid to stimulate the economy.

New legislation, which started at the beginning of the summer, permit employees to work up to 48 hours in a week as instead of 40.

EU Labor Statistics and Greek Financial Metrics

• Throughout the EU in the previous year, the highest working weeks were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, followed by Bulgaria, Poland and Romania.
• The shortest working week in the union is in the Netherlands (32.1), according to Eurostat.
• As of this year, the nation's national minimum wage was €968 a month, placing it in the lower tier among EU countries.
• Joblessness, which had peaked at 28% during the financial crisis, was 8.1% in the summer versus an European mean of five point nine percent, figures from the statistical office show.
• The country is improving since its prolonged financial troubles, which concluded in recent years, but salaries and quality of life continue to be among the poorest in the EU.