From July 1, many workers in Greece will work longer hours. Although the 40-hour workweek is still officially enshrined in labor law, employers are allowed to oblige workers to work an additional two hours a day.
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DW reports this.
After 15 years of recession and three EU bailouts under tough conditions, the Greek government has decided to resort to increasing working hours.
From July, workers in the private sectors of industry, trade, agriculture and part of the service sector, as well as private businesses operating around the clock, will work 48 hours a week if employers deem it necessary. For the sixth day, an increase of 40% of daily earnings must be paid.
In theory, workers should agree to work longer hours voluntarily. But in practice, many companies force them to work overtime without compensation.
This bill will destroy the five-hour workweek forever, says Professor Aris Kazaros, an expert in labor law. — When it comes to personal negotiations, the employer has absolutely all the cards and can dictate almost any conditions, with the exception of the minimum rights provided for by labor law.
At the same time, monitoring compliance with working conditions is clearly not a priority for the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Even before the introduction of the six-hour week, Greeks, according to Eurostat, work longer than other workers in the European Union: on average 41 hours a week.
At the same time, the payment they receive for this is considered low by European standards. The minimum wage is 830 euros, and Greece ranks 15th among EU countries in terms of this indicator. And in terms of purchasing power, the Greeks are second to last.
There is a shortage of qualified labor in the labor market in Greece. The new law means that labor will become cheaper for employers and they will not be motivated to hire more workers.
In addition, Kazaros notes, longer hours increase risks in industrial production. Last year, 179 workers died in work-related incidents, up from 104 the previous year.
With low wages and a six-hour week at home, Greeks are likely to go abroad to work. Yes, fewer and fewer people are willing to work in tourism, comparing the sector’s working conditions to slavery. Currently, seasonal workers on popular islands such as Mykonos and Santorini work seven days a week, seven days a week. It is not uncommon for such workers to share a room with ten others.
This comes against the backdrop of the opposite trend in European countries, where unions are fighting to introduce a 35-hour working day or a four-day week while maintaining the same wages. At the same time, companies are being urged to hire more workers. Research shows that this model increases productivity and desire to work.
Source: Racurs
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