A nationwide general strike has brought Greece to a standstill as workers protest against proposed labour reforms that would introduce a 13-hour work day. The 24-hour strike on Wednesday disrupted transport, hospitals, and schools across the country, with thousands of public and private sector workers walking off the job and joining demonstrations in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Unions argue that the reforms, expected to be passed into law this month, would destroy any hope of work-life balance in a country where employees already work some of the longest hours in Europe. According to Eurostat, Greeks work an average of 39.8 hours per week, compared to the EU average of 35.8 hours. The new law would allow employers to extend shifts by up to five hours, effectively enabling a 13-hour working day.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's pro-business government has defended the measure, saying it would increase flexibility and allow young people who often hold two jobs to work more hours for a single employer. Labour Minister Niki Kerameus stated that the 13-hour rule would only apply in 'exceptional' circumstances. However, critics, including the Communist party-affiliated union Pame, have likened the policy to 'modern slavery'.
Protesters gathered in Syntagma Square in Athens, with trade unionist Makis Kontogiorgos warning that 'people can't be pushed like this; at some point there'll be an explosion.' Katerina Andritsopoulou, a 55-year-old manufacturing employee, said she feared many workers would fall victim to labour abuses. 'While the rest of Europe talks about a shorter working week, in Greece, in the 21st century, it's all about longer hours and wages that don't reflect the cost of living,' she said.
The strike comes amid ongoing discontent over low wages and a high cost of living. Despite economic recovery from the debt crisis, the minimum wage in Greece remains among the lowest in Europe at €880 (£765) per month. Last year, the government faced similar backlash over the introduction of a six-day working week for some sectors, which unions condemned as 'barbaric'.
