Tag: Unions

Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Greece Extends Work Week to 6 Days for Some Industries, Sparking Outrage

## Greece Extends Work Week to 6 Days for Some Industries, Sparking Outrage

While many European nations explore the benefits of a four-day work week, Greece has taken a controversial step in the opposite direction. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently introduced a new law extending the work week to six days for certain industries, including 24-hour services, retail, agriculture, and some manufacturing sectors.

Mitsotakis, a center-right leader, argues that this measure is necessary to address Greece's shortage of skilled workers and shrinking, aging population. He claims the extended work week is "worker-friendly" and will boost economic growth, aligning Greece with the rest of Europe.

However, this justification has been met with fierce opposition from Greek unions, who view the law as a blatant attack on workers' rights and a regression to outdated labor practices. Aris Kazakos, a labor law expert, warns that the new law will effectively dismantle the five-day work week, giving employers excessive power to dictate working conditions beyond minimum legal requirements.

Critics point out the inherent contradiction in the government's stance. Akis Sotiropoulos, a union leader, criticizes the move as nonsensical, particularly when numerous "civilized countries" are embracing shorter work weeks. He emphasizes that employee productivity thrives on a healthy work-life balance and reduced working hours, not an extended work week.

The new law mandates an extra eight hours of work, compensated at a 40% premium, rising to 115% on holidays. However, critics argue that this financial incentive does not outweigh the potential negative impact on workers' well-being and the disregard for the growing trend towards shorter work weeks.

Although Greece's economy is recovering after a prolonged crisis, unemployment still lingers above 10%, and average monthly wages remain significantly lower than 15 years ago. This context further fuels the debate, with critics questioning if an extended work week is the right solution for Greece's economic challenges or if it will exacerbate existing issues of worker exploitation and income inequality.