In a move to boost economic growth, Greece has recently introduced a new six-day working week for certain industries. The legislation allows employees to work up to 48 hours per week, as opposed to the standard 40 hours. This change is optional for workers and only applies to businesses that operate around the clock. Employees who work overtime under this new law will receive an extra 40% in payment for their additional hours.
The new legislation contrasts with 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, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described the legislation as worker-friendly and growth-oriented, aligning Greece with the rest of Europe.
Despite the 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.
However, it is noteworthy 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.
Overall, Greece’s move towards a six-day working week highlights its commitment towards economic growth while also prioritizing employee wellbeing and combating undeclared work which contributes to tax evasion. It will be interesting to see how this policy unfolds in practice and whether it yields positive results for both employees and employers alike.
