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Government Building

Greece's parliament has given the green light a contentious labor reform that enables 13-hour working days, in the face of fierce resistance and nationwide protests.

The administration stated the law will revamp Greek labor regulations, but critics from the left-wing party labeled it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Key Provisions of the Recently Passed Labor Law

According to the newly enacted legislation, yearly overtime is capped at 150 hours, while the regular 40-hour week continues as before.

The government maintains that the longer workday is elective, only affects the private sector, and can exclusively be used for up to 37 days each year.

Political Support and Resistance

Thursday's ballot was supported by MPs from the governing centre-right political group, with the centre-left party – currently the primary resistance – rejecting the bill, while the progressive group abstained.

Labor unions have staged multiple protests calling for the law's repeal this month that brought transportation and public services to a stop.

Government Defense and Employee Safeguards

A senior official defended the legislation, claiming the reforms align national legislation with current employment conditions, and accused critics of misleading the citizens.

The laws will give workers the option to take on extra work with the same employer for 40% higher pay, while ensuring they will not be fired for refusing extra hours.

The measure complies with EU labor rules, which limit the average workweek to 48 hours including extra hours but permit adjustments over a year, according to the government.

Critical Perspectives and Labor Reactions

But, opposition parties have charged the administration of weakening employee protections and "driving the nation back to a labor middle age." They argue local workers already work longer hours than most Europeans while earning less and still "face financial difficulties."

A major labor organization said variable shifts in practice mean "the abolition of the standard workday, the destruction of personal time and the legalisation of over-exploitation."

Previous Labor Reforms and Financial Context

Last year, Greece enacted a six-day working week for certain sectors in a attempt to boost the economy.

Recent laws, which started at the start of the summer, allow employees to work up to forty-eight hours in a workweek as opposed to forty.

EU Work Data and Greek Financial Indicators

• Across the European Union in 2024, the highest average hours were recorded in Greece (39.8 hours), then Bulgaria (39.0), Poland (38.9) and Romania (38.8).
• The shortest working week in the union is in the Netherlands (32.1), as per Eurostat.
• As of this year, Greece's national minimum wage stood at €968 a month, placing it in the bottom group among European nations.
• Unemployment, which had peaked at 28% during the economic downturn, was eight point one percent in the summer versus an European mean of 5.9%, figures from Eurostat show.
• The country is improving since its prolonged debt crisis, which concluded in 2018, but wages and living standards remain among the lowest in the European Union.