Greece is currently at the center of a heated debate surrounding a proposed labor reform that could permit employees to work up to 13 hours a day for the same employer. The Ministry of Labor, under Minister Niki Kerameos, presented this bill in July 2025, framing it as a necessary modernization of labor laws to adapt to contemporary market demands. However, the proposal has triggered significant opposition, including widespread union protests and a general strike called for October 1, 2025, by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE).
The core of the proposed legislation allows for an extended workday of up to 13 hours, applicable for a maximum of 37 days annually. This is accompanied by provisions for flexible vacation days, short-term additional daily hours, the introduction of 120 minutes of additional daily availability through an application, and the potential for a four-day workweek with a 40-hour total. The government emphasizes that the 13-hour workday would be voluntary, with proposed increases of 40% for additional hours. A digital labor card system is also being expanded to better track work hours and overtime. Minister Kerameos has stated that these reforms aim to address labor shortages, with approximately 80,000 vacancies in sectors such as tourism and hospitality, and combat undeclared work by offering better-compensated overtime.
Labor unions, such as the GSEE, vehemently oppose the measure, fearing it will lead to worker exploitation and a regression in working conditions. The GSEE has stated, "exhaustion is not economic recovery, and human endurance has limits," and is advocating for a reduction in working hours to 37.5 per week, a standard seen in many other European nations. Critics argue that the proposed changes could undermine worker protections and collective bargaining. Professor Theodoros Koutroukis from Democritus University of Thrace warns that such extensions could negatively impact job satisfaction and productivity.
This debate unfolds against a backdrop of existing labor challenges in Greece. Eurostat data indicates that Greek workers already log more annual hours than their European counterparts, with an average of over 1,886 hours per year in 2023, placing Greece among the highest in the EU. Despite these long hours, Greek workers experience approximately 30% lower purchasing power than the EU average, and productivity levels are also a concern. This context fuels the unions' apprehension that extending workdays will exacerbate existing issues rather than solve them.
Across Europe, there is a discernible trend towards reduced working hours, with average annual hours per worker in the EU decreasing between 2008 and 2022. This contrasts sharply with Greece's proposed direction. While some nations explore four-day workweeks, Greece is contemplating longer daily hours. The government's rationale includes addressing labor shortages and combating undeclared work, yet the potential for indirect pressure on employees to accept longer hours, even if presented as voluntary, remains a significant point of contention.
Public opinion, according to Metron Analysis polls, also leans towards reducing working hours. 94% of workers advocate for reduced working hours while maintaining wages, and 56% oppose the 13-hour workday proposal. The majority of respondents believe that reducing the workday would positively impact family and social life, as well as physical and mental health.