Greece Introduces Six-Day Workweek for Certain Businesses

Starting from July 2024, more businesses in Greece will have the option to implement a six-day workweek for their employees. This new labor measure specifically targets industries providing 24/7 services or those facing exceptional workloads.

Under the revised labor law, employees in the private sector may find themselves working six days a week, surpassing the traditional 48-hour workweek limit.

• Businesses eligible to extend the workweek beyond five days include select industrial and manufacturing facilities and those offering round-the-clock services. Notably, workers in food service and tourism sectors are exempt from the extended workweek regulations.
• Employees subject to the revised law could see their work hours increase from 40 to 48 hours per week.

The implementation of this new policy has stirred controversy among Greek workers, who argue that it regresses labor rights in the country. Many point out that other nations are moving towards shorter workweeks, such as the popular four-day workweek trend.

While employees will receive additional compensation – 40% extra pay for the sixth workday and 115% more for working on Sundays – concerns persist, especially among the younger workforce, regarding the potential impact on their health and work-life balance.

Economists highlight that one of the major challenges facing the Greek economy is the productivity of working hours. Data from the European Commission reveals that nominal labor productivity per working hour in Greece lags behind the European average by approximately 40%. Factors contributing to this gap include insufficient investment in new technologies, a shortage of skilled labor, and excessive bureaucratic hurdles for Greek businesses.

According to Eurostat data from 2023, Greece currently boasts the longest average working week in the European Union at 39.8 hours, followed by Poland and Cyprus. In comparison, the European average stands at 36.1 hours per week, with the Netherlands having the shortest weekly working hours at 32.2.

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