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Government Building

The Greek parliament has ratified a disputed labor reform that permits extended-length work shifts, in the face of widespread opposition and countrywide strike actions.

The administration claimed the measure will update Greek labor regulations, but opposition figures from the progressive party labeled it as a "harmful law."

Key Elements of the Recently Passed Labor Law

According to the newly enacted legislation, yearly extra hours is also at 150 hours, while the regular forty-hour workweek stays unchanged.

Officials emphasizes that the longer workday is elective, only affects the private sector, and can only be used for up to 37 days each year.

Parliamentary Support and Resistance

The recent vote was supported by MPs from the governing conservative party, with the centre-left party – now the primary resistance – voting against the bill, while the left-wing group did not vote.

Labor unions have organized two general strikes demanding the law's repeal recently that brought public transport and public services to a stop.

Official Defense and Worker Safeguards

A senior official supported the legislation, claiming the reforms bring in line Greek laws with current labor-market conditions, and alleged opposition leaders of misinforming the citizens.

The laws will provide employees the option to accept extra work with the current company for increased compensation, while ensuring they will not be dismissed for refusing overtime.

This follows European Union labor rules, which cap the mean week to 48 hours counting extra hours but permit flexibility over 12 months, according to the government.

Critical Perspectives and Labor Reactions

But, opposition parties have accused the administration of eroding workers' rights and "driving the nation back to a medieval work era." They argue Greek employees already put in more time than the majority of Europeans while receiving lower pay and still "struggle to make ends meet."

A major labor organization said variable shifts in practice mean "the end of the standard workday, the destruction of family and social life and the authorization of excessive labor."

Previous Labor Reforms and Financial Background

Last year, the country enacted a six-day work schedule for specific industries in a attempt to stimulate economic growth.

Recent laws, which came into effect at the start of July, permit workers to work up to 48 hours in a workweek as opposed to 40.

European Labor Data and Greek Economic Indicators

• Throughout the EU in the previous year, the highest average hours were recorded in Greece (39.8 hours), then Bulgaria, Poland (38.9) and Romania.
• The lowest work hours in the bloc is in the Netherlands (32.1), as per Eurostat.
• Starting January 2025, Greece's national base pay was €968 a month, ranking it in the bottom group among EU countries.
• Joblessness, which had peaked at 28% during the financial crisis, was 8.1% in August versus an European mean of five point nine percent, figures from Eurostat indicate.
• Greece is recovering since its prolonged debt crisis, which ended in 2018, but wages and quality of life continue to be among the poorest in the European Union.