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Government Building

The Greek parliament has ratified a contentious labor reform that permits extended-length working days, in the face of strong resistance and nationwide protests.

The administration claimed the measure will update Greek work laws, but critics from the progressive party described it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Main Elements of the Recently Passed Work Legislation

Under the freshly approved law, yearly extra hours is capped at 150 hours, while the standard forty-hour workweek continues as before.

The government maintains that the extended workday is optional, only affects the private sector, and can only be used for up to thirty-seven days each year.

Political Backing and Opposition

Thursday's ballot was supported by lawmakers from the ruling conservative party, with the moderate faction – currently the main opposition – voting against the bill, while the progressive party abstained.

Labor unions have staged two general strikes calling for the bill's withdrawal recently that halted public transport and services to a stop.

Official Justification and Employee Safeguards

A senior official supported the bill, stating the reforms bring in line national laws with modern employment realities, and accused opposition leaders of misleading the public.

The laws will give workers the choice to accept extra work with the current company for 40% higher pay, while guaranteeing they cannot be dismissed for refusing overtime.

The measure follows European Union working-time regulations, which limit the average workweek to forty-eight hours including overtime but allow flexibility over 12 months, as stated by the administration.

Critical Viewpoints and Labor Reactions

But, critics have charged the government of weakening employee protections and "pushing the country back to a labor middle age." They say Greek employees already work longer hours than the majority of Europeans while receiving lower pay and still "struggle to make ends meet."

The public-sector union said variable shifts in practice mean "the abolition of the standard workday, the disruption of personal time and the authorization of over-exploitation."

Previous Labor Reforms and Financial Context

Last year, Greece enacted a six-day work schedule for specific industries in a attempt to stimulate the economy.

Recent laws, which started at the beginning of July, permit workers to labor up to 48 hours in a week as instead of 40.

European Work Data and Greek Economic Indicators

• Across the European Union in 2024, the highest working weeks were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, followed by Bulgaria (39.0), Poland (38.9) and Romania.
• The shortest working week in the bloc is in the Netherlands (32.1), as per EU statistics.
• As of this year, Greece's official base pay was €968 a month, ranking it in the bottom group among EU countries.
• Unemployment, which had reached a high at 28% during the financial crisis, was eight point one percent in August versus an EU average of five point nine percent, data from Eurostat indicate.
• The country is improving since its prolonged financial troubles, which concluded in recent years, but salaries and quality of life remain among the poorest in the EU.