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Government Building

The Greek parliament has given the green light a disputed labor reform that authorizes extended-length work shifts, in the face of strong opposition and nationwide strike actions.

The administration stated the law will modernize Greek work laws, but critics from the left-wing party labeled it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Main Elements of the Recently Passed Labor Law

Under the newly enacted law, annual overtime is capped at 150 hours, while the regular forty-hour week stays unchanged.

The government maintains that the extended shift is voluntary, solely applies to the private sector, and can only be used for up to 37 days each year.

Political Backing and Opposition

The recent vote was backed by lawmakers from the governing conservative political group, with the moderate faction – now the main resistance – rejecting the bill, while the progressive group abstained.

Labor unions have organized multiple protests calling for the law's repeal this month that halted public transport and public services to a standstill.

Government Defense and Worker Safeguards

A senior official supported the legislation, saying the reforms bring in line national laws with current employment realities, and alleged opposition leaders of misleading the public.

The laws will provide workers the option to accept additional hours with the same employer for increased pay, while ensuring they cannot be dismissed for declining overtime.

The measure complies with European Union labor rules, which limit the mean workweek to forty-eight hours counting extra hours but permit adjustments over a year, as stated by the government.

Opposition Viewpoints and Labor Reactions

However, opposition parties have charged the government of weakening employee protections and "pushing the nation back to a labor middle age." They argue Greek employees currently put in more time than most EU citizens while receiving lower pay and still "struggle to make ends meet."

The public-sector union said variable shifts in reality mean "the abolition of the standard workday, the disruption of family and social life and the authorization of excessive labor."

Recent Workplace Changes and Financial Background

Last year, the country introduced a six-day working week for certain industries in a attempt to stimulate the economy.

Recent laws, which came into effect at the start of the summer, allow workers to labor up to 48 hours in a workweek as opposed to forty.

European Work Data and National Financial Metrics

• Throughout the EU in 2024, the longest working weeks were recorded in Greece (39.8 hours), followed by Bulgaria, Poland (38.9) and Romania.
• The lowest work hours in the bloc is in the Netherlands (32.1), as per Eurostat.
• Starting this year, the nation's official base pay was €968 a month, placing it in the bottom group among EU countries.
• Joblessness, which had reached a high at 28% during the financial crisis, was eight point one percent in the summer versus an EU average of 5.9%, figures from the statistical office show.
• The country is recovering since its decade-long debt crisis, which ended in 2018, but wages and quality of life continue to be among the lowest in the EU.