Greece starts six-day working week for some industries
Greece has recently introduced a new six-day working week for specific industries, which came into effect at the beginning of July. Under this new legislation, employees in these sectors can now work up to 48 hours per week, an increase from the previous limit of 40 hours. This change primarily applies to businesses that operate continuously throughout the day and night. Importantly, participation in this extended working week is optional for workers, who are compensated with an additional 40% pay rate for any overtime they undertake.
The decision by the Greek government contrasts with prevailing workplace trends in Europe and the United States, where there is a growing movement towards shorter working weeks, often favoring four-day work schedules. Advocates of these shorter weeks argue that reduced working hours can actually enhance productivity and promote better employee welfare.
The motivation behind Greece’s adoption of the six-day working week includes efforts to combat undeclared work, which contributes to tax evasion issues in the country. Notably, industries heavily reliant on tourism and the food sector are exempt from this policy.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described the legislation as being supportive of workers while also promoting economic growth. He believes it brings Greece more in line with other European countries. This move aligns with the EU’s “working time directive,” which mandates member states to ensure a maximum 48-hour weekly limit on working hours, inclusive of overtime.
In recent years, there has been a global shift towards more flexible working arrangements, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many companies have experimented with four-day work weeks, often finding that productivity levels remain stable or even improve, despite reduced hours. Iceland, for example, reported overwhelmingly positive results from trials of a four-day week, leading to widespread adoption of shorter working hours in various workplaces.
The backdrop to Greece’s policy shift includes its recovery from the severe economic impacts of the late 2000s global financial crisis, which left the country burdened with significant debts due to high public spending and widespread tax evasion. Under Mitsotakis’ leadership, Greece has made strides in stabilizing and revitalizing its economy, despite earlier needing multiple international bailouts.
However, with regards to working patterns, Greece’s approach appears divergent from that of many other nations currently embracing shorter work weeks and flexible working models. This move towards a six-day working week reflects Greece’s specific economic and regulatory context, aiming to address economic challenges through revised labor policies tailored to specific sectors and economic realities.
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