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Greece's legislature has approved a disputed labor reform that permits extended-length work shifts, in the face of strong resistance and nationwide protests.

Government officials claimed the measure will modernize Greek labor regulations, but opposition figures from the left-wing faction described it as a "legislative monstrosity."

Key Elements of the New Work Legislation

Under the freshly approved law, annual overtime is capped at 150 hours, while the standard 40-hour week stays unchanged.

Officials insists that the extended shift is optional, only affects the business sector, and can only be used for up to 37 days annually.

Parliamentary Support and Opposition

Thursday's vote was supported by lawmakers from the governing conservative political group, with the moderate party – currently the main opposition – voting against the bill, while the left-wing group did not vote.

Labor unions have staged multiple protests calling for the bill's withdrawal this month that brought public transport and public services to a standstill.

Official Justification and Worker Protections

A senior official supported the legislation, saying the changes bring in line national legislation with current labor-market realities, and accused critics of misleading the public.

The laws will give workers the option to accept additional hours with the same employer for increased compensation, while ensuring they will not be dismissed for declining extra hours.

This follows European Union working-time regulations, which limit the mean week to 48 hours counting overtime but allow flexibility over a year, according to the government.

Critical Perspectives and Labor Responses

But, opposition parties have accused the government of weakening workers' rights and "driving the country back to a medieval work era." They say Greek workers already put in more time than the majority of Europeans while earning less and still "face financial difficulties."

The public-sector union stated flexible working hours in practice mean "the abolition of the standard workday, the destruction of personal time and the authorization of over-exploitation."

Recent Workplace Reforms and Financial Context

In 2024, the country introduced a six-day work schedule for certain industries in a bid to stimulate the economy.

Recent laws, which came into effect at the beginning of the summer, permit employees to work up to 48 hours in a week as opposed to forty.

EU Work Data and National Economic Indicators

• Throughout the European Union in 2024, the longest average hours were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, followed by Bulgaria, Poland (38.9) and Romania.
• The shortest work hours in the bloc is in the Netherlands (32.1), as per Eurostat.
• Starting January 2025, Greece's official base pay stood at €968 a month, ranking it in the lower tier among EU countries.
• Unemployment, which had reached a high at 28% during the financial crisis, was eight point one percent in the summer compared with an EU average of five point nine percent, figures from the statistical office show.
• Greece is recovering since its prolonged debt crisis, which concluded in 2018, but wages and quality of life remain among the poorest in the European Union.