Greece is taking a different approach to boosting its economy by implementing a limited six-day workweek. Starting in July, certain 24-hour industries may allow employees to opt for working up to 48 hours per week instead of a maximum of 40. Those who surpass the 40-hour threshold will receive an extra 40% in overtime pay. This change was labeled as “growth-oriented” by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the intention of reducing tax evasion stemming from undeclared work.
In contrast, other economies in Europe and the United States are considering adopting a shorter workweek. Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed legislation to define a workweek as 32 hours, and a significant number of American CEOs are reportedly considering implementing new organization-wide work schedule changes, such as a four-day workweek. This shift in Greece reflects the country’s efforts to stimulate economic growth and reposition itself in the global marketplace amidst ongoing challenges stemming from the previous financial crisis.