- Officials in Athens insist that Greeks must work even harder and longer.
Greece has introduced a six-day workweek in a bid to combat falling productivity amid an exodus of skilled workers, in a move branded “barbaric” by unions.
At a time when many European countries are considering implementing four-day workweeks, citing trials showing steady productivity along with a reduction in sick days and employee burnout, officials in Athens are adamant that Greek citizens need to work even harder, and longer.
Greece’s 2009 debt crisis plunged its economy into a brutal recession, causing unemployment to soar as many businesses went bankrupt.
The economy has since recovered, but Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is sounding the alarm about a major demographic shift that has led about half a million Greek skilled workers to seek opportunities further afield since the crisis.
Greece already has the longest five-day work week in Europe, with an average of 41 hours per week.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is sounding the alarm about a major demographic shift that has led some half a million Greek skilled workers to seek opportunities further afield.
Critics have slammed the new measure as being detrimental to workers’ rights, claiming that profit-hungry companies will now be able to require their employees to log six days a week every week, without facing any repercussions (2021 labour protests in Athens pictured)
The government hopes the introduction of a six-day workweek will help spur further growth and boost productivity amid a ticking time bomb of a shrinking population and a shortage of skilled labour.
But Akis Sotiropoulos, a member of the executive committee of the Adedy civil servants union, told the guardian:It does not make any sense.
“When almost all other civilized countries are introducing a four-day work week, Greece decides to do the opposite.”
The six-day regime does not apply to all Greek workers.
Under the new labor laws, the six-day plan will be limited to private companies that offer services 24 hours a day.
During this extended workweek, employees in certain industries and manufacturing sectors can choose to work two more hours per day or take an additional eight-hour shift.
They will also receive a 40% bonus on their daily wage, a measure Mitsotakis’ conservative government says will solve the problem of unpaid overtime and combat the widespread problem of undeclared work.
“The core of this legislation is pro-worker and deeply growth-oriented,” Mitsotakis insisted when the Greek parliament approved the law a few months ago.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attends a cabinet meeting at Maximos Palace in Athens, Greece, June 15, 2024
Critics say the move will give employers an excuse not to hire urgently needed additional staff and leave more young people out of work (pictured: general view of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece)
Meanwhile, critics have slammed the new measure as being detrimental to workers’ rights, claiming that profit-hungry companies will now be able to require their employees to work six days a week every week, without facing any repercussions.
They also say the move will give employers an excuse not to hire much-needed extra staff and leave more young people out of work.
“In reality, this has been approved by a government ideologically committed to generating ever greater profits for capital,” said Sotiropoulos, a member of the union committee.
‘Better productivity translates into better working conditions and a better quality of life for employees.
“We now know that this means fewer hours, not more.”