Greece has a legislative reform in place since Monday that allows a six-day workweek with up to 48 hours of volunteer work, in an initiative to boost productivity and attract foreign investment.
The initiative of the conservative government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also aims to improve the use of skilled labour and reduce the shadow economy.
Inflation has forced many workers to look for second jobs, but this measure is aimed at improving the conditions of single work.
The extension of working hours will only affect certain sectors, such as factories or small businesses, as well as companies providing uninterrupted services. Tourism and the hotel and restaurant sector have been excluded.
The measure has been harshly criticised by trade unions, who see it as contrary to labour rights and point out that it goes against the trend seen in other European countries such as Germany, Belgium, France, Iceland and the UK, which are proposing to reduce the number of hours per week to less than 40 or even reduce the number of working days from five to four, with shifts lasting ten hours instead of eight.
According to Akis Sotiropoulos of the Adedi civil servants’ union, “this is barbaric.”
“It doesn’t make any sense. When almost all other civilized countries are using a four-day week, Greece decides to go in the opposite direction,” he lamented.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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