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The Greek parliament has given the green light a contentious labor reform that authorizes 13-hour work shifts, in the face of fierce resistance and nationwide strike actions.

Government officials claimed the law will update the country's work laws, but critics from the progressive party labeled it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Key Elements of the Recently Passed Work Legislation

According to the newly enacted law, yearly overtime is limited at one hundred and fifty hours, while the regular 40-hour week remains in place.

The government emphasizes that the longer workday is elective, solely applies to the private sector, and can only be implemented for up to thirty-seven days annually.

Political Support and Opposition

Thursday's vote was supported by lawmakers from the ruling centre-right political group, with the moderate party – now the main resistance – rejecting the legislation, while the left-wing party abstained.

Worker organizations have staged two general strikes calling for the law's repeal this month that halted transportation and services to a stop.

Government Justification and Worker Protections

The Labor Minister defended the legislation, stating the changes align Greek legislation with modern labor-market realities, and alleged opposition leaders of misinforming the public.

These regulations will give employees the choice to take on extra work with the current company for 40% higher pay, while ensuring they cannot be dismissed for refusing overtime.

The measure complies with EU labor rules, which cap the average week to forty-eight hours including extra hours but allow flexibility over 12 months, as stated by the government.

Opposition Perspectives and Union Responses

However, opposition parties have charged the government of eroding workers' rights and "pushing the nation back to a medieval work era." They say local employees currently put in more time than most Europeans while receiving lower pay and still "face financial difficulties."

The public-sector union said variable shifts in practice mean "the abolition of the standard workday, the disruption of personal time and the legalisation of over-exploitation."

Recent Workplace Changes and Financial Background

In 2024, Greece enacted a six-day working week for certain industries in a bid to stimulate the economy.

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

EU Labor Data and Greek Financial Metrics

• Throughout the European Union in the previous year, the highest average hours were observed in the Hellenic Republic, followed by Bulgaria (39.0), Poland (38.9) and Romania.
• The shortest work hours in the bloc is in the Netherlands, according to Eurostat.
• As of January 2025, the nation's official minimum wage stood at €968 a month, placing it in the bottom group among EU countries.
• Joblessness, which had peaked at twenty-eight percent during the economic downturn, was eight point one percent in August versus an European mean of five point nine percent, figures from Eurostat show.
• Greece is recovering since its prolonged financial troubles, which ended in 2018, but salaries and quality of life continue to be among the poorest in the European Union.