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Government Building

Greece's legislature has ratified a disputed labor reform that authorizes extended-length working days, in the face of strong opposition and nationwide protests.

Government officials asserted the law will update the country's work laws, but opposition figures from the progressive party described it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Main Provisions of the Recently Passed Work Legislation

Under the freshly approved legislation, annual extra hours is capped at one hundred and fifty hours, while the regular 40-hour week stays unchanged.

The government emphasizes that the longer shift is voluntary, solely applies to the business sector, and can only be used for up to thirty-seven days each year.

Parliamentary Backing and Resistance

Thursday's vote was supported by lawmakers from the governing conservative party, with the moderate party – now the main resistance – rejecting the bill, while the progressive group did not vote.

Worker organizations have organized two general strikes calling for the law's repeal this month that brought public transport and public services to a stop.

Government Justification and Employee Protections

The Labor Minister defended the legislation, saying the changes bring in line Greek legislation with current labor-market conditions, and alleged opposition leaders of misleading the public.

The laws will give workers the choice to take on additional hours with the same employer for 40% higher compensation, while ensuring they cannot be fired for refusing overtime.

This complies with EU labor regulations, which cap the average workweek to 48 hours counting extra hours but allow flexibility over 12 months, according to the administration.

Critical Viewpoints and Labor Responses

But, opposition parties have charged the administration of eroding employee protections and "driving the nation back to a medieval work era." They argue Greek employees already work longer hours than the majority of EU citizens while earning less and still "struggle to make ends meet."

A major labor organization stated variable shifts in practice mean "the abolition of the eight-hour day, the disruption of family and social life and the legalisation of excessive labor."

Recent Workplace Reforms and Financial Background

Last year, Greece enacted a six-day work schedule for certain industries in a attempt to boost economic growth.

New legislation, which came into effect at the start of July, permit workers to work up to 48 hours in a week as opposed to 40.

European Work Data and Greek Economic Indicators

• Across the EU in the previous year, the longest average hours were recorded in Greece (39.8 hours), then Bulgaria (39.0), Poland and Romania (38.8).
• The shortest working week in the union is in the Netherlands (32.1), according to EU statistics.
• As of January 2025, the nation's national base pay was €968 a month, placing it in the lower tier among European nations.
• Unemployment, which had reached a high at 28% during the economic downturn, was eight point one percent in the summer versus an EU average of five point nine percent, data from Eurostat indicate.
• The country is improving since its decade-long financial troubles, which concluded in 2018, but salaries and quality of life remain among the poorest in the EU.