Greece is now offering employees the option to work up to 48 hours per week as part of a new six-day working week policy. This change, implemented by certain industries, is aimed at boosting economic growth and is optional for workers. Employees who work overtime under this new law will receive an extra 40% in payment for their additional hours.
This move by the Greek government stands in contrast to workplace practices in other parts of Europe and the United States, where shorter working weeks are becoming more common. Many companies in these regions argue that working fewer hours can actually increase productivity and improve employee wellbeing. However, tourist businesses and the food industry are exempt from this policy.
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described the legislation as worker-friendly and growth-oriented, aligning Greece with the rest of Europe. Despite recent success in returning the economy to growth after the global financial crisis in the late 2000s, Greece’s new working week policy seems to go against the trend of other nations. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies have adopted flexible working models and experimented with four-day working weeks without reducing staff wages.
It is worth noting that Greece’s new working week plan aims to address issues related to undeclared work and tax evasion. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to boost economic growth and align the country with European standards. The impact of this new legislation on the Greek workforce and economy remains to be seen as it departs from current trends seen in other countries.