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Government Building

The Greek legislature has ratified a contentious work legislation that permits extended-length working days, in the face of widespread opposition and nationwide protests.

Government officials asserted the measure will revamp Greek labor regulations, but opposition figures from the left-wing party described it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Main Provisions of the Recently Passed Work Legislation

According to the freshly approved law, yearly overtime is limited at 150 hours, while the standard forty-hour week stays unchanged.

The government maintains that the longer workday is elective, solely affects the private sector, and can only be used for up to 37 days each year.

Political Support and Resistance

The recent vote was backed by MPs from the governing conservative political group, with the centre-left faction – now the main opposition – voting against the legislation, while the left-wing group did not vote.

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

Official Justification and Employee Protections

A senior official defended the bill, saying the changes bring in line national laws with modern employment realities, and alleged critics of misinforming the citizens.

The laws will provide workers the option to accept additional hours with the same employer for 40% higher compensation, while ensuring they will not be dismissed for declining overtime.

The measure complies with European Union working-time regulations, which limit the average workweek to forty-eight hours including extra hours but permit adjustments over 12 months, as stated by the government.

Critical Viewpoints and Labor Responses

However, opposition parties have charged the administration of weakening employee protections and "pushing the nation back to a medieval work era." They argue local workers already work longer hours than the majority of EU citizens while receiving lower pay and still "struggle to make ends meet."

A major labor organization said flexible working hours in reality mean "the abolition of the eight-hour day, the disruption of family and social life and the authorization of over-exploitation."

Previous Workplace Changes and Financial Background

Last year, the country enacted a six-day work schedule for certain industries in a bid to boost economic growth.

Recent laws, which started at the beginning of the summer, permit employees to work up to forty-eight hours in a workweek as instead of 40.

EU Work Statistics and Greek Financial Metrics

• Across the EU in 2024, the highest average hours were recorded in Greece (39.8 hours), then Bulgaria, Poland and Romania (38.8).
• The lowest working week in the union is in the Netherlands, according to EU statistics.
• Starting January 2025, the nation's national minimum wage was nine hundred sixty-eight euros a month, placing it in the bottom group among EU countries.
• Unemployment, which had peaked at 28% during the economic downturn, was eight point one percent in August versus an EU average of five point nine percent, data from the statistical office show.
• Greece is recovering since its prolonged financial troubles, which concluded in recent years, but salaries and living standards continue to be among the lowest in the EU.