Greece Introduces Six-Day Work Week to Address Labor Shortages

Amidst a labor shortage and high unemployment, Greece is introducing a new law that allows employers to offer their employees the option of working a six-day workweek. This move aims to address the lack of skilled workers, which has been exacerbated by the country's recent financial crisis and subsequent brain drain. The government hopes that the increased earning potential from the sixth workday, which will be compensated with a 40% pay increase, will entice workers to take on additional hours and reduce undeclared overtime work.

While unions have criticised the law as exploitative, Labor Minister Adonis Georgiadis argues that it will provide workers with the right to extra-paid special work and curb undeclared work practices. The new regulation will primarily target industries that require continuous operation, such as manufacturing, telecommunications, and public sector services.

According to Eurostat, Greeks already work the longest hours per week in the EU, averaging 39.8 hours compared to the EU average of 36 hours. The new law will limit the workweek to a maximum of 48 hours to prevent excessive overtime.

In addition to this measure, the Greek government is also exploring other solutions to address the labor shortage, including recruiting seasonal workers from countries like Egypt and India. However, the six-day workweek initiative is a significant step towards adapting to the changing labor market dynamics in the country.