The Greek Parliament approved this Thursday, October 16, a new labor law that allows workers to comply journeys up to 13 hours a daya measure that has generated strong protests from unions and the opposition.
The proposal, presented by conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakiswas approved only with the favorable votes of the party in power, the New Democracy. All of opposition voted against, with the exception of Syriza, which even abandoned the plenary in a sign of protest, stating that he did not want to “legalize a monstrous law with his vote”, according to reports EFE agency.
The government argues that this flexibility is necessary to respond to the shortage of qualified labor and to population aging. Since coming to power in 2019, Mitsotakis’ executive has promoted reforms that have made the Greek labor market one of the most “flexible” in Europe, according to the Hellenic government’s arguments.
For example, since July 2024, workers in the sectors industrial, agricultural, commerce and some services may be called to work six days a weekreceiving an increase of 40% in the salary corresponding to the sixth day.
However, the unions and the opposition denounce what they consider a setback in labor rights. “Flexible working hours means, in practice, abolishing the eight-hour working day, destroying family and social life and legalizing over-exploitation”, criticized the ADEDY trade union in a statement cited by the website Politico.
The law now approved establishes that 13 hours a day can only be applied up to 37.5 days per yearrespecting a maximum limit of 48 hours per weekwith a ceiling of 150 hours of overtime per year. The Ministry of Labor emphasizes that membership will be volunteerbut unions warn that, in a country with little labor supervision, workers will have little room to refuse.
The legislative package also includes other controversial measures, such as the possibility of divide annual leave into more than two partsthe creation of two-day contracts, flexible weekly schedules e quick hiring through digital applicationsunder the argument of responding to “urgent needs of companies”.
The approval of the law occurred after a general strike which brought the country to a standstill on Tuesday – the second in the space of a month – with transport and public services practically at a standstill.
Greece is trying to consolidate its economic recovery after a decade of crisis and austerity. The unemployment rate, which reached 28% during the sovereign debt crisis that affected southern European countries and led to years of troika-imposed austerity, fell to 8.1% in August, but remains above the European average (5,9%).
While the government insists that the new law will bring more competitiveness and flexibilityunions and left-wing parties promise to continue fighting against what they call “legalization of exhaustion”.