Greece passes legislation allowing workdays to extend up to 13 hours
Greece is set to introduce significant changes to its labor laws, with a proposed bill that includes the option for employees to work up to 13 hours per day for specific periods annually. This move is part of a broader effort to address staff shortages, particularly in sectors like tourism and hospitality, and to curb undeclared work by bringing more hours into the formal economy.
Key Components of the Bill
The bill proposes several key changes, including:
- Extended Working Hours: Employees can work up to 13 hours per day for up to 37 days annually, with a 40% wage increase for the additional hour. This flexibility is intended to provide solutions for staffing needs in critical sectors.
- Four-Day Workweek: The bill also expands the possibility of a four-day workweek, where employees work longer shifts across fewer days.
- Flexible Employment Forms: Part-time employees can work overtime, and flexible forms of employment like trial contracts and on-demand work agreements are promoted.
- Overtime and Insurance: Overtime bonuses above the legal minimum will be exempt from insurance contributions.
Impact on Labor
The proposal has drawn criticism from unions, who argue that longer workdays could be counterproductive to productivity, especially in office jobs, and that the law does not adequately involve union input. However, the government claims that the new law will strengthen employee rights by reducing undeclared work and providing better compensation for overtime.
Impact on Tourism
The extended working hours are aimed at alleviating significant staffing gaps in tourism and hospitality, where nearly 80,000 positions remain vacant. Some businesses in these sectors see potential benefits in the plan, as it could help stabilize staffing and meet demand.
Impact on Under-the-Table Work
The law is designed to bring more working hours into the formal economy, thereby reducing undeclared work and ensuring that all hours are legally accounted for and compensated.
Controversy and Debate
Despite the government's intentions, the proposal faces opposition due to concerns about worker well-being and the long-term impact on productivity. If implemented, Greece would be the first EU country to allow such extended workdays for a single employer, marking a significant departure from traditional European labor standards.
Minister of Labor, Kerameos, aims to accommodate working parents by offering them the choice between a five-day, eight-hour workweek or a four-day, ten-hour workweek. Employers and employees can agree to spread weekly work time over four days, each with ten hours of work. The new law allows for a four-day workweek, maintaining a 40-hour workweek.
Last year, a wildfire in the Athens suburb of Mati claimed the lives of 120 people. Greece legalized a six-day workweek with up to 48 hours, including eight hours of overtime. Overtime hours exceeding nine per day are compensated at a 40% increase. Ten individuals responsible for the Mati wildfire tragedy have been sentenced to prison terms.
The proposed bill in Greece includes an extension of working hours, allowing employees to work up to 13 hours per day for specific periods annually, which is seen as a measure to address staff shortages in sectors such as tourism and hospitality.
This extension of working hours is part of a broader strategy to bring more hours into the formal economy and curb undeclared work, demonstrating the integration of technology in labor laws to streamline and regulate work hours.
