Greece has implemented a new legislation at the beginning of July, introducing a six-day working week in selected industries as part of efforts to enhance economic growth. Under this new law, employees can work up to 48 hours per week, an increase from the previous limit of 40 hours. The policy applies specifically to businesses operating 24 hours a day and is voluntary for workers, who are compensated with an additional 40% payment for overtime.
This move by the Greek government diverges from prevailing workplace norms in Europe and the United States, where trends towards shorter, four-day working weeks are gaining traction. Advocates of shorter working weeks argue that reduced hours can lead to increased productivity and better employee well-being.
The initiative aims to address issues like undeclared work, which contributes to tax evasion, as reported by Greek public broadcaster ERTNews. However, sectors such as tourism and the food industry are exempt from these regulations.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underscored the worker-friendly nature and growth-oriented focus of the legislation, aligning Greece more closely with European standards. He emphasized that the measure targets specific industries with continuous operations or rotating shifts, responding to increased operational demands.
A spokesperson from Greece’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security clarified that the policy is restricted to businesses with continuous operations and specific operational demands, ensuring it does not impact the standard five-day working week mandated by law. The government intends for these measures to safeguard workers against under-declared or undeclared work while ensuring fair compensation.
Greece’s economic recovery efforts follow the severe impact of the global financial crisis, which prompted multiple international bailouts. Despite broader global trends towards flexibility and shorter workweeks, Greece’s strategy focuses on bolstering specific industries with rigorous operational demands.
In contrast to international trials of four-day working weeks, which have proven successful in maintaining or even boosting productivity, Greece’s approach underscores its unique economic recovery trajectory and policy priorities.
