"I can't work 13 hours a day and I don't expect that from my employees", Ani, the head of a beauty salon in Athens, tells DW. She is convinced that her clients will not be satisfied with the work of the exhausted beauticians either. That is why she wonders why the Greek Minister of Labor, Niki Kerameos, absolutely wants to create legal prerequisites for a 13-hour workday.
The minister's answer: it is an exception to the rule, which applies only to 37 working days a year, and that is "in the interest of workers".
The unions reject the plans and oppose the adoption in parliament of the bill "for more flexible working hours". That's why they've called a general strike for Wednesday, October 1. They hope to paralyze the country in this way. One thing is certain - that ships will remain in ports, planes on the ground, and the few trains in stations.
Six-day workweek for workers
Even before this bill, the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis turned the Greek labor market into one of the most flexible in Europe. Since July 2024, workers in industry, commerce, agriculture, and some service sectors must work six days a week if their employer makes such a decision. For the additional sixth day, a 40 percent bonus is given on top of the wage.
In general, the 40-hour workweek still applies in Greece, but employers have the right, for a limited time, to demand up to two unpaid additional working hours, offering more time off in return. Theoretically, this is voluntary, but in many companies, workers are forced to work longer hours without compensation.
The 13-hour working day should also be voluntary, the Minister of Labor emphasizes. No one is obliged to work overtime, Niki Kerameos points out.
Negative effects on productivity
But can a worker really refuse if asked to work overtime? Labor expert Prof. Theodoros Koutroukis says: "No. This cannot go without consequences, since the individual worker has only minimal opportunities to negotiate". Koutroukis warns that the new legislation will not have a positive impact on the labor market. Extending daily working hours could lead to a decrease in job satisfaction of employees, a drop in productivity and even an increase in labor costs. It can also affect the balance between family and professional life and limit the worker's ability to have enough time for further qualification and development, the professor adds.
The expert suggests that in exceptional cases, where there is an urgent need in a given industry or in a given company, additional working hours should be introduced for a short time. This could be arranged by employers and workers through the mechanism of tariff negotiations.
Flexible working hours according to the employer's needs
Along with the introduction of the 13-hour working day, the bill also provides for a "flexible" distribution of weekends, a flexible and short-term distribution of additional work of 120 minutes per day and calling employees to work via a mobile application in the event of "urgent need". A four-day workweek with 40 hours per week will also be an option.
The Ministry of Labor is convinced that the proposed reform will adapt the legislation to reality. However, many labor experts perceive this as legalizing violations by employers registered in the past.
Extending working hours instead of working at two places
Due to low wages, many Greeks work at two places, and with the new rules they will be able to work 13 hours per day for one employer. "If you can do this with two employers and move from one place to another, why can't you do it with one and earn 40 percent more?" is the question that Kerameos constantly asks the public.
However, behind it lies the question of why so many people in Greece cannot support themselves with their 40-hour work and have to work overtime or in two places.
According to Eurostat, Greeks work a lot, more than all other Europeans - 1,886 hours a year. However, productivity is low, as is purchasing power (30 percent below the EU average). In other words, Greeks already work a lot, but at the will of the government they have to work even harder.
The unions say: "Enough is enough!"
The Greek union GSEE rejects the 13-hour workday. "Exhaustion is not a boost, human workload has limits" is the slogan of the planned protests. Instead of an extension, the union is fighting to reduce working hours to 37.5 hours a week, as is the case in many European countries.
In its call for the general strike, the union notes: "Greek workers, who already work more hours per year than their EU colleagues and report a large increase in burnout and overload, will now be confronted with a dystopia. Enough! We simply can't take it anymore.".
Author: Kaki Bali