Greece has launched a six-day work week

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A six-day working week would be the new norm for Greeks in choose industries the federal government has allowed to impose prolonged hours.

Underneath laws that got here into impact in Greece final Monday, it’s as much as employers to decide on whether or not to increase the work week to 6 days — from 40 hours to the European Union restrict of 48.

Unions have condemned the change, saying it is an assault on employee’s rights.

The scheme additionally flips the pattern amongst European international locations, who’ve been winding down the working week — with extremely productive outcomes.

How does a six-day week work?

Companies in sure industries can ask staff to report for obligation an additional two hours per day, or work an extra eight-hour shift.

Staff will get a 40 per cent penalty for the extra shift, or 115 per cent in the event that they work Sunday.

The worker can’t work greater than eight hours throughout the further shift.

A spokesperson for Greece’s ministry of labour and social safety instructed the BBC the measure is non-compulsory, not obligatory.

“You will need to be aware that this measure doesn’t have an effect on in any manner the established five-day working week mandated by regulation,” the spokesperson mentioned, noting it was geared toward addressing “pressing operational calls for”.

People walk through a terrace cafe where a waitress carries a tray.

The six-day week will not apply to meals service and tourism, which have already got provisions for prolonged hours. Supply: NurPhoto / Getty Pictures/AAP

The brand new scheme applies to companies that function 24 hours a day, for greater than 5 days every week, and use rotating shifts.

It additionally consists of elements of the economic and manufacturing sector, however excludes tourism and hospitality.

Wider labour reform

The six-day work week is one in all a spread of labour reforms launched by centre-right prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who says it can assist struggle the pressures of a talented employee scarcity and a shrinking inhabitants.

Greece has one of many highest emigration charges within the EU. Over 500,000 residents have left the nation because the 2007-09 world recession that left Greece’s financial system crippled, battling a sovereign debt disaster and unemployment ranges above 25 per cent.

Mitsotakis — who has overseen GDP progress above the eurozone common — has described the six-day work scheme coverage as “progress oriented” and “employee pleasant”.

The federal government argues it can additionally assist sort out points like undeclared work and unpaid additional time.

“It brings Greece in step with the remainder of Europe”, Mitsotakis mentioned final yr, earlier than the laws was handed.

Greeks already work the longest hours in Europe, based on European Fee knowledge, however are among the many lowest paid.

This yr the federal government raised the minimal month-to-month wage to 830 euros ($1,335) and says it can attain 950 euros ($1,528) by the top of its time period in 2027.

It additionally promised to extend the common wage by greater than 25 per cent to 1,500 euros ($2,413) in that point.

Backlash from staff

The labour reforms have been met with fierce backlash by unions who say they dismantle basic employee rights and introduce “barbaric” situations.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Athens final September earlier than the reform bundle was launched to parliament.

A man shouts into a megaphone at a protest.

The introduction of a labour reform bundle in September 2023 met fierce opposition in Greece. Credit score: Milos Bicanski/Getty Pictures

The invoice elevated the utmost day by day working time to 13 hours, and allowed employers to sack staff for as much as a yr with out warning or remuneration.

It additionally launched fines and a six-month jail time period for individuals who forestall staff from working throughout a strike.

Greece’s Communist Get together — KKE — known as the invoice “monstrous”, whereas left-wing Syriza mentioned the federal government had a “secret agenda” focusing on staff.

Greece bucks the pattern

In the case of the six-day week, different European international locations have been experimenting in the other way — decreasing the working week to 4 days.

In 2022, that condenses the identical working hours into fewer days.

A trial in Iceland in 2021 that concerned staff working fewer hours for a similar pay was so profitable it led to greater than 85 per cent of the workforce negotiating shorter hours.

Related trials have run in the UK and Sweden, and are underneath manner in Germany, Spain and Portugal.

Exterior Europe the concept is gaining traction with trials run in Japan, New Zealand —

In accordance with the World Financial Discussion board, the advantages of a four-day week embody happier staff, much less air pollution from commuting and a lift in productiveness.

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