Greece’s New Labor Law Allows Up to 13-Hour Workdays

Greece's recent labor law reforms have sparked debate by permitting workdays that can extend up to 13 hours. Supporters argue this increases flexibility, while critics warn of potential risks to workers’ health and rights.

Sharp Division in Greek Parliament Over Labor Reform

The Greek Parliament, marked by heated debate and visible tension, has voted in favor of a deeply controversial piece of legislation: a law enabling employees in the private sector to work up to 13 hours per day. This measure, championed by the ruling conservative majority, was passed on October 16, 2025, after two intense days of discussion. The move has not only exposed profound rifts among lawmakers but also ignited fierce public controversy.

A Fractured Response from Society

Across Greece, the societal response has been nothing short of dramatic. Leading opposition figures, particularly from Syriza, have branded the reform a “legislative monstrosity,” insisting it represents a historical rollback of hard-won labor protections. Labor unions, no less vocal, describe the legislation as an alarming return to a “medieval” model of employment.

Several factors explain this surge in discontent:

• Widespread general strikes brought sectors to a near standstill earlier in October.
• Skepticism prevails among workers regarding official assurances about voluntariness and increased pay.
• The lingering shadow of job insecurity looms over large swathes of the population.

The government’s position is that employees can choose this extended schedule—up to three days per month, for a maximum of 37 days annually—with an accompanying wage premium of 40%. Yet these reassurances have failed to quell widespread doubts.

Persistent Economic Strains Shape Choices

Despite recent improvements—a reduction in unemployment from 18% to 8% over six years—salaries in Greece remain among the lowest in Europe. Only Bulgaria and Hungary reported lower figures in 2023. Not surprisingly, many Greeks accept overtime as a necessity rather than an option.

Eurostat data highlight that nearly one-fifth of Greeks aged 20–64 now work more than 45 hours per week—double the European average. These realities underscore why such reforms are both possible and polarizing.

Deregulation or Necessary Modernization?

This latest law follows previous moves by lawmakers to loosen labor regulations—in fact, certain sectors were already permitted six-day workweeks since 2024. Critics warn that these changes threaten standards such as the minimum daily rest period (11 hours), especially with commute times encroaching further on personal time.

Whether this new flexibility will genuinely empower workers or simply deepen their sacrifices remains hotly debated. For now, Greek labor reform stands at the center of a volatile national conversation about rights, opportunity, and economic survival.