General Strike in Greece Over Plans for 13-Hour Workday

Greece is set to grind to a halt on Wednesday as workers stage a 24-hour general strike in protest against the conservative government’s proposals to introduce a 13-hour workday.

The strike will disrupt transport in Athens, including trains and ferry services, while teachers, hospital staff, and civil servants are also taking part in the mobilisation.

Protests are scheduled for midday (0900 GMT) across the country to oppose the reform advocated by the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The main private-sector union, GSEE, which is leading the strike alongside the public-sector union ADEDY, has warned that the reform:

• “Endangers the health and safety of workers”
• “Destroys the balance between professional and personal life”

The pro-communist union PAME accused the government of attempting to introduce “modern slavery”, forcing workers to endure inhumane hours and miserable wages.

PAME also denounced what it called “ruthless deregulation” that has rapidly advanced in Greece since the 2009 debt crisis.

The bill, not yet submitted to parliament, would allow employees to work 13 hours a day for the same employer under exceptional circumstances, in return for extra pay.

Currently, employees can already work extended hours if they have two or more employers, but the reform would allow a single-employer arrangement.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in power since 2019, argued that many young Greeks already hold two jobs and wish to work more to increase their earnings: “We guarantee a freedom of choice for both the employer and the employee. Why would that be antisocial?”

Labour Minister Niki Kerameus emphasised that the measure is exceptional, not generalised: “It is a provision valid for up to 37 days per year, only with the employee’s consent, and with a 40 percent pay increase.”

Despite a recovery since the debt crisis, Greece’s economy remains fragile.

Low wages and the high cost of living remain significant concerns for Greeks, even amid falling unemployment and sustained growth.

Working Hours and Sectoral Practices

• The legal working day in Greece is eight hours, with the possibility of paid overtime.
• Greece already permits a six-day working week in high-demand sectors, such as tourism, especially during peak season.
• During peak periods, servers and cooks often work extended days, sometimes without a weekly rest.

Parliament has not yet scheduled a discussion of the draft law, according to its press service.

The strike reflects widespread worker anxiety over longer hours in a country where Greeks already work above the EU average.

Unions and civil society groups are calling for the government to reconsider the reform, highlighting the need to protect health, safety, and work-life balance for employees across all sectors.