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Government Building

The Greek legislature has ratified a disputed labor reform that enables extended-length work shifts, in the face of widespread opposition and countrywide protests.

Government officials stated the law will update the country's work laws, but critics from the progressive faction described it as a "regulatory disaster."

Key Provisions of the Recently Passed Labor Law

According to the freshly approved legislation, annual extra hours is limited at 150 hours, while the standard 40-hour workweek continues as before.

Officials emphasizes that the extended workday is voluntary, only applies to the business sector, and can only be used for up to thirty-seven days each year.

Political Support and Resistance

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

Labor unions have staged multiple protests demanding the law's repeal recently that halted public transport and services to a standstill.

Official Defense and Employee Protections

The Labor Minister supported the legislation, claiming the reforms align Greek legislation with current labor-market realities, and accused opposition leaders of misinforming the citizens.

The laws will give workers the option to accept additional hours with the current company for 40% higher compensation, while ensuring they will not be fired for declining overtime.

The measure follows EU working-time rules, which cap the average workweek to 48 hours including extra hours but permit adjustments over 12 months, according to the government.

Critical Viewpoints and Labor Responses

However, critics have charged the government of weakening employee protections and "driving the country back to a labor middle age." They argue Greek workers currently put in more time than the majority of Europeans while receiving lower pay and still "struggle to make ends meet."

The public-sector union stated flexible working hours in practice mean "the abolition of the standard workday, the disruption of family and social life and the legalisation of excessive labor."

Previous Labor Changes and Financial Context

In 2024, Greece introduced a six-day work schedule for specific sectors in a bid to boost economic growth.

Recent legislation, which came into effect at the beginning of the summer, permit employees to work up to 48 hours in a week as opposed to forty.

European Work Data and Greek Economic Indicators

• Across the EU in 2024, the highest working weeks were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, then Bulgaria, Poland (38.9) and Romania (38.8).
• The lowest working week in the union is in the Netherlands, according to EU statistics.
• Starting January 2025, Greece's national minimum wage was €968 a month, placing it in the bottom group among EU countries.
• Unemployment, which had peaked at 28% during the financial crisis, was 8.1% in the summer versus an EU average of five point nine percent, data from Eurostat show.
• The country is improving since its decade-long financial troubles, which ended in recent years, but wages and living standards continue to be among the lowest in the European Union.