🔗 Share this article Greece Approves Debated Labor Law Authorizing Longer Workdays in Certain Circumstances Government Building Greece's parliament has approved a disputed work legislation that permits extended-length working days, in the face of strong resistance and countrywide strike actions. Government officials claimed the law will revamp Greek labor regulations, but critics from the left-wing faction described it as a "regulatory disaster." Key Elements of the Recently Passed Labor Law According to the newly enacted legislation, annual extra hours is also at 150 hours, while the standard 40-hour week remains in place. Officials insists that the extended workday is voluntary, only applies to the business sector, and can exclusively be implemented for up to thirty-seven days each year. Political Support and Opposition Thursday's ballot was backed by lawmakers from the ruling conservative political group, with the centre-left party – now the main opposition – rejecting the bill, while the left-wing group did not vote. Worker organizations have organized two general strikes calling for the law's repeal recently that brought transportation and public services to a standstill. Government Justification and Employee Safeguards A senior official supported the legislation, saying the changes bring in line Greek laws with current employment conditions, and alleged critics of misleading the public. These regulations will provide employees the choice to accept additional hours with the current company for 40% higher pay, while ensuring they will not be dismissed for declining extra hours. The measure complies with European Union labor regulations, which limit the average week to 48 hours including extra hours but allow flexibility over a year, according to the government. Critical Perspectives and Labor Reactions But, opposition parties have charged the administration of eroding employee protections and "pushing the country back to a labor middle age." They argue local employees currently put in more time than most Europeans while earning less and still "face financial difficulties." The public-sector union said variable shifts in practice mean "the abolition of the eight-hour day, the destruction of family and social life and the legalisation of over-exploitation." Recent Labor Reforms and Economic Background Last year, the country enacted a six-day work schedule for specific sectors in a bid to stimulate economic growth. Recent laws, which started at the start of July, permit workers to labor up to 48 hours in a workweek as opposed to 40. European Labor Data and Greek Financial Metrics Across the EU in the previous year, the longest average hours were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, then Bulgaria (39.0), Poland and Romania (38.8). The lowest work hours in the union is in the Netherlands, as per Eurostat. As of this year, Greece's national base pay was nine hundred sixty-eight euros a month, placing it in the lower tier among EU countries. Joblessness, which had peaked at 28% during the financial crisis, was 8.1% in August compared with an EU average of five point nine percent, data from the statistical office indicate. Greece is improving since its decade-long debt crisis, which concluded in recent years, but wages and quality of life continue to be among the lowest in the European Union.