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The Greek legislature has given the green light a disputed work legislation that authorizes extended-length work shifts, despite fierce opposition and nationwide strike actions.

Government officials stated the law will revamp the country's labor regulations, but critics from the progressive party described it as a "regulatory disaster."

Key Provisions of the Recently Passed Labor Law

According to the freshly approved legislation, annual extra hours is also at 150 hours, while the regular 40-hour week continues as before.

Officials insists that the extended shift is optional, solely applies to the private sector, and can exclusively be implemented for up to 37 days each year.

Parliamentary Support and Opposition

Thursday's ballot was backed by lawmakers from the governing conservative political group, with the moderate faction – now the primary resistance – voting against the legislation, while the left-wing group abstained.

Worker organizations have staged two general strikes demanding the bill's withdrawal this month that brought public transport and services to a standstill.

Government Defense and Worker Safeguards

The Labor Minister defended the legislation, claiming the reforms align Greek legislation with current labor-market conditions, and alleged opposition leaders of misleading the citizens.

These regulations will provide employees the option to take on extra work with the same employer for 40% higher compensation, while ensuring they will not be dismissed for declining overtime.

This follows EU working-time regulations, which cap the average workweek to forty-eight hours including overtime but permit flexibility over 12 months, according to the government.

Critical Viewpoints and Labor Responses

But, opposition parties have accused the administration of weakening workers' rights and "pushing the country back to a medieval work era." They argue local employees already put in more time than the majority of EU citizens while earning less and still "struggle to make ends meet."

A major labor organization said variable shifts in practice mean "the abolition of the eight-hour day, the disruption of family and social life and the authorization of over-exploitation."

Recent Labor Reforms and Financial Background

Last year, the country introduced a six-day work schedule for specific industries in a bid to stimulate economic growth.

New laws, which started at the start of the summer, allow employees to work up to forty-eight hours in a week as instead of forty.

EU Labor Statistics and National Economic Metrics

• Throughout the European Union in the previous year, the highest average hours were recorded in the Hellenic Republic, followed by Bulgaria (39.0), Poland and Romania (38.8).
• The lowest working week in the union is in the Netherlands (32.1), as per EU statistics.
• Starting January 2025, the nation's official base pay stood at €968 a month, placing it in the bottom group among European nations.
• Unemployment, which had peaked at 28% during the economic downturn, was 8.1% in the summer versus an EU average of 5.9%, figures from Eurostat indicate.
• Greece is improving since its prolonged financial troubles, which ended in 2018, but wages and quality of life continue to be among the lowest in the EU.