Greece Bucks the Trend: New Law Implements 6-Day Workweek Amidst Criticism

While many countries experiment with shorter workweeks, Greece has taken a different path. This week, the country enacted a new law mandating a six-day workweek, sparking criticism from workers and unions.

Law 5053/2023, passed last fall, allows employers to require employees to work an additional day, capped at 8 hours, with 40% overtime pay. This change applies to companies with continuous 24/7 operations or those facing unexpectedly heavy workloads.

The move comes amidst rising living costs in Greece, further burdening workers already struggling financially. Unions argue that the law grants employers excessive unilateral power and exacerbates existing issues of long working hours and low wages.

Government Justification:

The government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, defends the law citing:

• Shrinking population and skilled worker shortage: They argue that a longer workweek is necessary to address these demographic and labor market challenges.
• Combating Undeclared Work: The formalization of the six-day workweek aims to curb illegal employment practices.
• Increased Employee Income: The government claims that the overtime pay for the sixth day will boost workers’ earnings.

Criticisms and Concerns:

• Worker Exploitation: Labor unions and workers criticize the law as exploitative, increasing workload without addressing the root causes of the labor shortage or low wages.
• Work-Life Balance: The added workday raises concerns about the impact on employees’ work-life balance and well-being.
• Economic Impact: Critics question whether a longer workweek will genuinely address Greece’s economic challenges, particularly considering the country’s already high working hours and low wage ranking among OECD nations.

Public Outrage and Protests:

The new law has ignited protests across Greece. Public anger further escalated when Prime Minister Mitsotakis posted a seemingly tone-deaf photo with the band Coldplay amidst the ongoing crisis and devastating wildfires plaguing the country.

Greece’s Economic Landscape:

While Greece has seen some economic recovery, it still lags behind its European counterparts in GDP per capita. The minimum wage, despite recent increases, remains low, highlighting the economic struggles faced by many Greek workers.

The implementation of the six-day workweek has sparked significant debate about the future of work in Greece and the government’s approach to addressing economic challenges. Whether this controversial policy will yield the intended results remains to be seen.