On July 3, 2024, a well-dressed woman walked in Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece. A new measure passed today concerns the right of employers to unilaterally introduce a six-day working week from now on.
Nicholas Kokovlis | Noor Photos | Getty Images
Greek government defends its new policies Six-day work week policyIt said it was a “special measure” that would only apply in “certain circumstances.”
Greece introduced new rules in early July that allow employees at some businesses to work an extra two hours a day or add an additional eight-hour shift to their schedules – meaning they can work 48 hours instead of the traditional 40 hours a week. The policy does not cover food service and tourism operations.
Anger over the policy spread on social media as the rule faced fierce opposition from unions and political observers. When the policy package containing the bill was first announced last September, Thousands protest Oppose new policies.
Some critics worry about whether the policy will expand to other departments and businesses, or mean employees won’t be fairly compensated or overworked.
The Greek Minister of Labor and Labor said: “It is worth noting that this new regulation will not in any way affect the 5-day/40-hour working week provided for by Greek law, nor will it establish a new 6-day working week. Social Security Ministry Niki Kerameus told CNBC in emailed comments late last week.
“All it does is provide the option of extra working days in limited circumstances as a special measure.”
Only two types of businesses are regulated by this provision – those that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on a shift basis, and those that are open 24 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week, also on a shift basis .
On June 12, 2024, in Athens, Greece, the Parthenon was empty due to a heat wave.
Baltas Coast | Anadolu | Getty Images
Kerameus explains that, especially for businesses that do not operate every day, “the option of additional working days will only be allowed in cases of increased workload”.
The minister said the new rules will protect workers from not formally declaring their jobs in the correct way, meaning they can now receive fair compensation. For example, she added, workers’ wages may rise due to increased hours worked.
“In addition, the law provides for additional measures to ensure workers’ protection, such as ensuring rest days, specific working hours and safeguards against unfair dismissal,” she said.
Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Data shows that by 2022, Greek workers will work longer hours on average than workers in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union as a whole.
Kerameus said many other countries have enacted measures and regulations similar to Greece’s new policy.
“Most European countries have similar special extra working day regulations. So Greece is not doing anything different,” she said.
