The Greek Parliament Approves Debated Workplace Law Authorizing Longer Working Days in Certain Cases

Government Building

Greece's parliament has ratified a disputed work legislation that permits extended-length work shifts, despite fierce resistance and nationwide strike actions.

Government officials claimed the measure will revamp the country's work laws, but critics from the progressive party labeled it as a "harmful law."

Key Elements of the Recently Passed Work Legislation

Under the freshly approved law, annual extra hours is limited at 150 hours, while the standard 40-hour week remains in place.

Officials insists that the extended shift is voluntary, solely affects the business sector, and can exclusively be applied for up to 37 days each year.

Parliamentary Backing and Opposition

The recent ballot was backed by lawmakers from the governing conservative political group, with the moderate party – now the main opposition – voting against the legislation, while the progressive group abstained.

Labor unions have organized two general strikes demanding the law's repeal this month that halted transportation and public services to a stop.

Official Defense and Worker Protections

The Labor Minister supported the bill, stating the reforms align national laws with modern labor-market conditions, and accused opposition leaders of misinforming the public.

These regulations will provide employees the choice to accept extra work with the current company for 40% higher compensation, while ensuring they will not be dismissed for declining overtime.

The measure follows European Union labor rules, which cap the average workweek to forty-eight hours including extra hours but allow flexibility over 12 months, as stated by the administration.

Critical Perspectives and Union Reactions

However, opposition parties have accused the government of weakening workers' rights and "pushing the country back to a medieval work era." They say Greek workers currently work longer hours than the majority of Europeans while earning less and still "struggle to make ends meet."

The public-sector union said variable shifts in reality mean "the end of the eight-hour day, the destruction of personal time and the legalisation of over-exploitation."

Previous Workplace Reforms and Economic Context

In 2024, the country introduced a six-day work schedule for certain industries in a bid to boost the economy.

New laws, which started at the start of July, allow workers to work up to forty-eight hours in a workweek as instead of forty.

EU Labor Data and Greek Economic Metrics

• Across the European Union in 2024, the longest working weeks were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, followed by Bulgaria, Poland (38.9) and Romania.
• The lowest work hours in the bloc is in the Netherlands, according to EU statistics.
• As of this year, the nation's national base pay was €968 a month, placing it in the bottom group among European nations.
• Unemployment, which had peaked at 28% during the financial crisis, was eight point one percent in August versus an EU average of five point nine percent, figures from Eurostat indicate.
• Greece is improving since its decade-long financial troubles, which ended in 2018, but salaries and quality of life remain among the lowest in the EU.