The Greek Parliament recently approved a new labour law introducing a six-day work week and flexible working hours despite strong opposition from political parties and trade unions. A total of 158 legislators supported the law, all from the ruling New Democracy party, while the remaining legislators voted against the reform. The government argued that the new labour law is a means of aligning Greek legislation with EU directives and aims to combat undeclared work. They also claimed it would provide greater flexibility and enhance overall employment.
Under this law, full-time workers can hold a part-time second job and work up to thirteen hours a day. Essentially, this amounts to either sixty-five hours a week across five days or seventy-eight hours across a six-day week.
The law sets out conditions for a six-day workweek if necessary. It enables employers to offer new hires a probationary period of up to six months and allows them to dismiss employees during the first year without notice or compensation unless otherwise agreed. Moreover, the legislation intends to penalize those who prevent workers from attending work during strikes with fines.
It introduces the possibility of compulsory work on Saturdays or Sundays, compensating employees with an additional forty per cent of the daily wage for the sixth work day. Additionally, it incorporates “employment on demand,” enabling employers to summon an employee twenty-four hours in advance to report for work.
Furthermore, the law permits workers to take on a second job with another employer for up to five hours daily, in addition to the standard eight working hours. Opposition parties and unions criticize the law, asserting that it could establish a common practice of a six-day workweek due to inadequate labour inspections in Greece. They condemn the law for undermining the eight-hour day and the traditional five-day work week.
Major unions, including PAME, Civil Servants’ Confederation (ADEDY), Federation of Secondary State School Teachers (OLME), Maritime Workers’ Union (PENEN), and Federation of Public Hospital Employees, supported a 24-hour strike against the legislation. Unions argue that the law will deteriorate workers’ rights and conditions, expressing concerns about possible repercussions for striking workers.
