On Friday, Greece made headlines as it became the first European Union nation to introduce a six-day work week. The move was made by the government to enhance productivity, but it was met with fierce opposition from labor unions.
From Monday onwards, private businesses that provide round-the-clock services are allowed to offer their employees the choice of working an extra two hours every day or an additional eight-hour shift, with a 40% increase in their daily wage, as per the new law.
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Workers in the food service and tourism industries are not included in the initiative.
In a bid to prioritize the welfare of employees and curb undeclared work, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has dubbed the new work week as “worker-friendly”. This move ensures that workers are properly compensated for their overtime work, while also cracking down on those who engage in undeclared work.
According to Akis Sotiropoulos, an executive committee member of the Greek civil servants’ union Adedy, the decision made by the national government to extend the work week to six days is in contrast to the approach taken by every other European country.
The Guardian reported that Sotiropoulos expressed disbelief at Greece’s decision, stating, “It makes no sense whatsoever. When nearly every advanced nation is embracing a four-day workweek, Greece is choosing to move in the opposite direction.”
According to Eurostat, Greek workers already put in an average of 41 hours per week, making them the hardest working in Europe.
