Two jobs, up to 13 hours a day
Greece introduces the six-day week
17.06.2024, 16:31
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No one in the EU works as much as the Greeks – and from next month their working hours could even increase significantly. The government hopes that the reform of labor law will result in less illegal work and that companies will find more skilled workers.
On average, a full-time Greek employee works more than 1,800 hours a year. That is more working hours than in any other EU country and a good 500 hours more than the average German worker. While Germany is debating a further reduction in working hours and the first companies are introducing the four-hour week, working hours in Greece are being drastically increased: on July 1, a far-reaching labor reform will come into force in Greece, which includes the introduction of the six-day work week.
The conservative government pushed the legislative package through parliament last autumn despite fierce opposition from the opposition and the unions. The maximum permissible working hours will be increased to 48 hours on up to six days a week. Other provisions of labor law will also be made more flexible. In future, companies will be allowed to inform their employees of their assignments only 24 hours before the start of work. Restrictions on probationary periods will also be relaxed.
In addition, employees will now be allowed to take on a part-time job of up to five hours a day in addition to a full-time job of eight hours. This means that the maximum permitted working time per week will be up to 78 hours. Formally, employees cannot be forced to do any additional work. The law also provides for significant bonuses: 40 percent more must be paid for work on Saturdays, and 115 percent more for work on Sundays.
Penalties for picketing
Trade unions fear, however, that the law will lead to the exploitation of workers. During the debate on the reform, they pointed out that official controls on occupational safety in Greece are “practically non-existent”. In addition, the influence of trade unions will also be restricted. In future, anyone who prevents employees who are willing to work from starting work – for example, by enforcing strikes – can be punished with high fines or even prison sentences.
With the reform, the government wants to combat the shortage of skilled workers, which is not only affecting industry. The tourism industry is also finding it difficult to find sufficient seasonal workers. Tourism companies in particular are set to benefit from this, as their employees will work significantly more during the high season and less or not at all in winter. The government also hopes to combat widespread undeclared work. Many Greeks have second jobs in addition to their main job anyway, argued the supporters of the law. The reform is intended to bring these activities out of illegality.