Newsroom
Greece’s Labor Ministry has unveiled ambitious new legislation that could see 10-hour workdays spread over four days a week, alongside other major changes to how Greeks work and get paid.
The proposed bill, titled “Fair Work for All,” also covers individual contracts with reduced hours, allows for 13-hour workdays under certain conditions, and lowers the cost of overtime for employers.
If approved, the 88-article law would let employers and employees, where no union is involved, arrange working hours on a weekly basis or even continuously throughout the year, adapting to business needs. Overtime rules would allow up to four extra hours per day, with pay increased by 40%, though weekly and annual limits remain. Employees would be protected from dismissal if they refuse to work extra hours.
The draft law makes clear that the 13-hour workday would only apply where breaks are not required during working hours. For example, large retail companies and industrial firms providing a 30-minute break cannot extend workdays beyond 11 hours in order to comply with mandatory rest periods.
Other key points include extending the reference period for alternating high and low workload phases from six to 12 months and ensuring fair compensation for legal overtime, up to 150 hours per year.
The ministry emphasized that the legislation would not interfere with ongoing talks with social partners on strengthening sectoral labor agreements. Public consultation on the bill is open until September 19.
The changes could mark a significant shift in Greek work culture, giving employers more flexibility while offering employees clearer rules and protections for overtime.
