Declared Overtime in Greece Rises by 1.8 Million Hours

Greece has recorded an additional 1.8 million declared overtime hours compared to last year, Labour and Social Security Minister Niki Kerameus revealed in a radio interview with Real FM, citing new data from the ERGANI labour information system.

Kerameus described the figure as “immense,” attributing the sharp rise to the growing use of the Digital Work Card, which she said protects workers by accurately recording their working time and ensuring proper compensation. The system’s coverage has expanded significantly to include tourism, food service, industry and retail. She added that the sectors of wholesale, energy and financial services will soon become part of its mandatory rollout.

Tourism and food service have seen the largest increases in declared overtime—681% and 180% respectively—leading to “more income for workers and the state,” the minister noted.

Addressing criticism from the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) about alleged deregulation of labour protections, Kerameus defended the government’s record. She highlighted Greece’s lowest unemployment rate since 2008 and the addition of over 500,000 jobs in the past five years. Full-time employment now covers more than 75% of the workforce, she said.

Kerameus dismissed claims of an impending “13-hour workday” as misleading, stressing that the provision is strictly exceptional, limited to 37 days per year, and requires employee consent. She emphasised that the measure merely formalises arrangements that already occur when individuals work for multiple employers, allowing workers—if they choose—to earn a 40% overtime premium with a single employer instead.

Responding to concerns about abuse, she referenced similar debate around last year’s exceptional sixth workday regulation, which ultimately applied to just 0.1% of businesses.

The minister criticised the opposition for focusing on a single provision while ignoring 87 others included in the upcoming labour bill—many of which, she argued, benefit workers directly. These include measures on a year-round four-day work option, expanded maternity and parental leave benefits, stronger health and safety requirements, and mandatory on-site safety coordinators.

Kerameus also promoted a new subsidised employment program for 10,000 mothers with children up to 15, stressing the ministry’s commitment to reducing female unemployment by supporting businesses that hire unemployed mothers.

She clarified that the forthcoming four-day work option will be available to all employees—not only parents—as a means to support work–life balance.

Finally, she noted the ministry’s upcoming “Rebrain Greece” initiative in New York on 7 December 2025, organised to connect skilled Greek professionals abroad with major Greek companies seeking specialised talent. “There is strong interest in returning,” she said. “Our role is to bring Greek professionals abroad closer to the opportunities in Greece.”