A 24-hour general strike has brought Greece to a standstill as workers protest against the introduction of a 13-hour working day. Transport services, hospitals and schools were disrupted across the country, with thousands of public and private sector employees walking off the job and taking to the streets.
In Athens and Thessaloniki, public transport was halted, while ferries remained in port and hospital staff and teachers joined the action. The strike is the latest opposition to labour reforms proposed by the centre-right government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which would allow employees to work up to 13 hours a day.
Trade unionists argue the changes will erode workers' rights and destroy any hope of work-life balance. “Greeks are already forced to survive on some of the lowest wages in Europe and now they’re asking us to effectively work most of the day,” said Makis Kontogiorgos, a trade unionist from a major technology company. “People can’t be pushed like this; at some point there’ll be an explosion.”
Greece has recovered from a prolonged debt crisis but wages remain low, with the minimum wage set at €880 (£765) a month despite rising living costs. According to Eurostat, Greeks work an average of 39.8 hours a week, above the EU average of 35.8 hours. Critics warn that longer hours will lead to burnout and accidents. The law is expected to pass this month.
Labour Minister Niki Kerameus said the 13-hour rule would apply only in “exceptional” circumstances, while Mitsotakis argued it would help young people who often work two jobs. However, protesters like Katerina Andritsopoulou, a 55-year-old manufacturing employee, voiced fears of labour abuse. “While the rest of Europe talks about a shorter working week, in Greece it’s all about longer hours and wages that don’t reflect the cost of living,” she said.
