EditGreece grinds to a halt: 13-hour workday proposal prompts nationwide strikes
The government insists that the 13-hour workday is an exceptional and optional measure and offers a 40% pay increase for overtime
Thousands of workers flooded on 1 October the streets of Athens and other major Greek cities during a 24-hour nationwide strike organised by the General confederation of workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Supreme administration of public employees’ unions (ADEDY).
The action, which halted public transport, ferries and schools, united civil servants, teachers, healthcare workers, seafarers, taxi drivers, and retail workers in opposition to a controversial labor bill from the Ministry of Labour.
Unions argue the bill effectively introduces a 13-hour workday, transforming workers into slaves, erodes working conditions, and threatens the health and well-being of workers across the country.
The conservative government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has rejected claims that the bill abolishes the 8-hour workday, emphasising that it remains the standard. The government frames the 13-hour workday as an optional, exceptional measure requiring employee consent and offering a 40% pay increase for overtime.
Workers demand fair labor policies
The GSEE, representing private-sector workers, has demanded the complete withdrawal of the proposed labor bill, arguing that it prioritises “depletion over growth.”
The union advocates for a reduced workweek of 37.5 hours without pay cuts and the restoration of free collective bargaining, which it views as essential for securing better wages and improving work quality. The GSEE has sharply criticised provisions that it believes normalize a 13-hour workday for a single employer, undermine the mandatory daily rest period, and introduce excessive flexibility that increases job insecurity.
In addition, the ADEDY, which represents public-sector employees, has called for the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th salaries eliminated during Greece’s debt crisis, along with salary increases and the reintroduction of Collective Labour Agreements in the public sector.
The union also seeks the repeal of a new Disciplinary Law and the withdrawal of the 13-hour workday proposal, pushing instead for a universal 35-hour workweek to alleviate job exhaustion, particularly in critical sectors like healthcare and education.
Education and healthcare sectors lead the charge
Educational federations, including the Didaskaliki federation of Greece (DOE), the Federation of secondary education officers (OLME), and the Federation of private educational officers of Greece (OIELE) have condemned the bill for effectively dismantling the standard 8-hour workday, reducing it to “an exception rather than the norm”.
These groups argue that the legislation weakens collective representation and worsens labor relations, particularly in private education, where staff shortages have already driven significant resignations in recent years.
In the healthcare sector, the Federation of Associations of hospital doctors of Greece (OENGE) has labeled the bill an “abomination” that brings the country back to the middle age.
The union notes that reliance on overtime and on-call shifts has become a permanent fix for chronic staff shortages, pushing workers to the brink of burnout.
The Panhellenic Federation of public hospital employees (POEDIN) echoed these concerns, warning that the public health system is operating at its breaking point, with severe understaffing compromising both patient care and worker well-being.
The core issue: working hours and work-life balance
At the heart of the dispute is the issue of working time. Greek workers already log some of the highest annual working hours in Europe, averaging 39.8 hours per week compared to the EU average of 35.8 hours, according to Eurostat.
The GSEE argues that the proposed bill exacerbates this by expanding opportunities for overtime, disrupting the balance between work and personal life.
The union contends that the bill’s fragmented approach to flexibility reduces protections and increases job insecurity.
The pro-communist PAME union has gone further, accusing the government of promoting “modern slavery” through “inhuman working hours and miserable wages,” pointing to the ongoing deregulation of labor laws since the 2009 debt crisis.
The Government’s arguments
The government highlights safeguards such as a mandatory 11-hour daily rest period, a maximum of 48 hours per week averaged over four months, and a cap of 150 hours of annual overtime. A digital work card system, the government argues, ensures accurate recording and payment of overtime, with undeclared overtime incurring a 120% pay increase.
The Ministry of Labour has promoted the bill as a modernisation effort that offers practical benefits, including flexible work arrangements like a 4-day, 10-hour workweek by mutual agreement, greater flexibility in allocating annual leave at the worker’s request, and enhanced maternity and parental leave benefits, including tax-exempt and irrevocable provisions for foster care.
The government also points to improved health and safety regulations, such as mandatory coordinators for technical projects, and simplified recruitment processes for urgent needs.
Labor Minister Niki Kerameous has stressed that the 13-hour workday is limited to 37 days per year and is not a generalised policy, noting that similar provisions exist in other EU countries, provided rest rules and weekly limits are respected.
Greece’s economy has shown signs of recovery since the 2009 debt crisis, with unemployment declining and growth reaching 2.3% in 2024, according to the European Commission.
However, low wages – despite a minimum wage increase to 880 euros per month, and a high cost of living remain pressing concerns for Greeks. In sectors like tourism, workers such as waiters and chefs often face extended hours without weekly rest during peak seasons, underscoring existing labor challenges.
The strike, which follows earlier protests at the Thessaloniki International Fair, signals escalating tensions as the bill awaits parliamentary discussion. Unions have vowed to intensify their actions if the legislation is not withdrawn or significantly revised.
Caption: Greek workers call 24-hour strike over 13-hour workday plan. Photo dated July 2025. Workers Revolutionary Party
Updated: October 1, 2025 - 10:30
