Greece Faces Nationwide Strike Over Controversial 13-Hour Workday Bill

by Deborah Oladapo

Transport and public services across Greece were disrupted on Tuesday as major labour unions staged a 24-hour nationwide strike to protest a government proposal introducing an optional 13-hour workday.

The industrial action — the second this month — saw ferries, trains, and municipal services halted, while urban transport in Athens operated on reduced hours. Flights, however, were unaffected.

The walkout comes ahead of a parliamentary vote on Wednesday on a labour reform bill the government says will modernise work conditions and increase flexibility for both employers and employees. The legislation allows workers to take on two jobs, extending their total working hours to 13 per day, and also permits agreements for a four-day workweek.

Labour Minister Niki Kerameus said the measure would “strengthen employees and facilitate businesses,” noting that it includes provisions for working mothers and enhances labour benefits. The government argues the reforms are part of broader efforts to align Greek labour laws with evolving global standards and boost productivity.

However, opposition parties and trade unions strongly criticised the proposal, describing it as a step backward that would undermine workers’ rights and expose employees to exploitation. Union leaders insist that while the bill describes longer hours as “optional,” employees who refuse to comply could face job insecurity or dismissal.

“This is not flexibility; it’s a disguised form of overwork,” the public-sector union ADEDY said in a statement. The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) also condemned the move, calling it “a regression to the 19th century.”

Greece currently recognises an eight-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek, though paid overtime is permitted. The government recently legalised a six-day workweek in certain high-demand sectors, including tourism and manufacturing.

The strikes disrupted economic activity across key sectors on Tuesday, with shipping and logistics bearing the brunt of the shutdown. Businesses warned that extended industrial action could weigh on Greece’s fragile post-pandemic recovery and investor sentiment.

The government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis maintains that the reforms are necessary to address modern workforce realities and curb undeclared work. Still, economists say the backlash highlights ongoing tension between Athens’ push for labour market liberalisation and the country’s deeply rooted union movement.

The protests are expected to continue as parliament debates the bill. Analysts say the outcome could test the government’s ability to push through labour reforms while maintaining political stability amid growing worker discontent.