The Greek Parliament Approves Disputed Labor Law Authorizing 13-Hour Workdays in Specific Cases

Government Building

The Greek parliament has given the green light a disputed labor reform that enables 13-hour work shifts, in the face of fierce opposition and nationwide protests.

The administration stated the law will modernize the country's work laws, but opposition figures from the progressive faction described it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Key Provisions of the Recently Passed Work Legislation

Under the newly enacted law, yearly overtime is also at one hundred and fifty hours, while the regular forty-hour workweek remains in place.

Officials maintains that the longer shift is optional, solely applies to the private sector, and can exclusively be implemented for up to 37 days annually.

Political Backing and Opposition

The recent vote was supported by lawmakers from the governing conservative party, with the centre-left faction – now the main opposition – voting against the legislation, while the progressive party abstained.

Labor unions have staged multiple protests calling for the law's repeal recently that brought public transport and public services to a stop.

Government Justification and Employee Protections

A senior official supported the legislation, stating the reforms align Greek legislation with current employment conditions, and alleged critics of misleading the citizens.

These regulations will provide employees the option to accept extra work with the current company for 40% higher compensation, while ensuring they cannot be dismissed for refusing overtime.

The measure follows EU labor regulations, which limit the average week to forty-eight hours counting overtime but allow flexibility over a year, according to the government.

Critical Viewpoints and Union Reactions

But, opposition parties have charged the administration of weakening employee protections and "pushing the country back to a medieval work era." They argue Greek employees currently 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 reality mean "the abolition of the standard workday, the disruption of personal time and the authorization of over-exploitation."

Recent Labor Reforms and Economic Background

In 2024, the country introduced a six-day working week for certain industries in a attempt to boost the economy.

New laws, which came into effect at the beginning of July, allow employees to labor up to forty-eight hours in a workweek as opposed to forty.

EU Labor Statistics and Greek Economic Metrics

• Throughout the European Union in 2024, the longest working weeks were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, then Bulgaria (39.0), Poland (38.9) and Romania (38.8).
• The shortest work hours in the bloc is in the Netherlands, according to Eurostat.
• As of January 2025, Greece's official base pay was nine hundred sixty-eight euros a month, ranking it in the bottom group among EU countries.
• Joblessness, which had peaked at 28% during the economic downturn, was 8.1% in August compared with an EU average of 5.9%, figures from Eurostat show.
• The country is recovering since its prolonged debt crisis, which ended in 2018, but wages and living standards continue to be among the poorest in the EU.