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Greece's parliament has ratified a disputed labor reform that authorizes 13-hour work shifts, in the face of strong resistance and countrywide strike actions.

The administration asserted the measure will revamp the country's work laws, but opposition figures from the left-wing faction described it as a "regulatory disaster."

Key Provisions of the New Labor Law

Under the newly enacted legislation, annual overtime is capped at one hundred and fifty hours, while the standard forty-hour workweek remains in place.

The government emphasizes that the extended shift is voluntary, solely affects the private sector, and can exclusively be used for up to 37 days annually.

Political Backing and Opposition

Thursday's ballot was supported by lawmakers from the ruling centre-right party, with the moderate party – currently the primary opposition – rejecting the legislation, while the left-wing party did not vote.

Labor unions have organized multiple protests calling for the law's repeal recently that halted public transport and public services to a stop.

Government Justification and Worker Protections

The Labor Minister supported the bill, stating the reforms bring in line national legislation with modern labor-market conditions, and accused critics of misinforming the public.

The laws will give workers the choice to take on extra work with the current company for 40% higher compensation, while guaranteeing they cannot be fired for refusing overtime.

This complies with European Union labor rules, which limit the mean workweek to forty-eight hours counting extra hours but permit flexibility over 12 months, as stated by the government.

Opposition Viewpoints and Union Reactions

However, opposition parties have charged the administration of weakening workers' rights and "driving the country back to a labor middle age." They argue Greek workers already put in more time than most EU citizens while earning less and still "face financial difficulties."

A major labor organization stated variable shifts in practice mean "the abolition of the standard workday, the destruction of personal time and the legalisation of over-exploitation."

Recent Labor Changes and Financial Background

Last year, the country introduced a six-day working week for certain sectors in a bid to boost economic growth.

Recent legislation, which came into effect at the start of the summer, allow workers to work up to forty-eight hours in a workweek as instead of 40.

European Labor Data and National Economic Indicators

• Throughout the EU in 2024, the longest working weeks were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, then Bulgaria, Poland and Romania.
• The shortest working week in the union is in the Netherlands, according to EU statistics.
• Starting January 2025, Greece's official base pay was €968 a month, placing it in the bottom group among EU countries.
• Joblessness, which had reached a high at 28% during the financial crisis, was 8.1% in the summer versus an EU average of 5.9%, data from the statistical office indicate.
• The country is improving since its decade-long financial troubles, which ended in 2018, but salaries and living standards continue to be among the poorest in the EU.