Annie, the owner of a beauty salon called “64” in the Central Athens ‘Pagti, says, “I can’t work 13 hours a day, and I do not expect from my Amemies,” Central Athens’ Pagti is the owner of a beauty salon called “64”. He suspects that any of his customers will be satisfied with the work of a beauty beautician. This is why she thinks that Greek Labor Minister Nikki Kermos wants to create a legal foundation for 13 -hour working day.
Kermos has told reporters that it is only about allowing “in the interests of employees” except 37 days a year.
The Greek Labor Union, meanwhile, rejects the minister’s plans and is trying to turn the bill, which will soon be introduced in Parliament. He has called for a general strike on 1 October and wants to bring Greece into a round: no ship will leave the ports, the aircraft will remain on the ground and no train is running.
Six -day week
Under the Prime Minister Kiriyakos Mitsotacis, the Cervical Government of Greece has converted the country’s labor market into one of the most “flexible” in Europe. Since July 2024, employees in industry, retail, agriculture and some service sectors have been forced to work for six days week if they want their employer. However, they are paid at an additional 40% at the top of their simple wages for the sixth working day.
The 40-hour week still applies in Greece, but employers are allowed to demand unpaid overtime per day for a limited duration for a long period. In theory, this overtime is voluntary, thought in many companies without obtaining additional compensation.
Minister Kermos says that 13 -hour working day should be voluntary, no overtime is obliged to work.
Long -term working hours can damage productivity
But does an employee to refuse to overtime when asked by an employer? Professors of Labor Relations at Theodoros Kuntrukis, Democrats University of Thresh, doubt it.
“This is not possible without results, as the employee has only the least bargain power,” says Cotrocis.
He warned that the new law would not have a positive impact on the laboratory market. Koutroukis says that expanding the daily work hours will reduce the satisfaction and productivity of the employees’ job. This, in turn, a decline in quality of goods and services and even the unit labor cost may increase. In addition, koutroukis say, extended work can affect the work-life balance of employees, and limit their ability to spend time in receiving professional training.
Koutroukis so that the possible daily working house expands the house does not do anyone to deepen the relationship between any workers and employers. Instead, in exceptional cases only suggest allowing additional work hours for a short term where it seems necessary for a certain industry. This arrangement, Corturukis, says, through the mechanism of collective bargaining, there may be an agreement between employers and employees.
Further liberalism plan was made
The draft bill of keremos is therefore proposed for the “flexible” delivery of the holiday, flexible and short -term allocation of 120 minutes of overtime per day, and the ability to reach the employees through an app is proposed to all thesis changes “immediately to meet the needs of the company.”
Minister Kermos has said about the Labor Market Reform, praising it for “Adapting” [Greek] Law for reality. ,
On the other hand, labor market experts say that this step gives validity to the violations of all labor rights that have been made by employers.
Many Greeks are forced to do two things due to low wages. If the new labor market bill is passed, the Greek will be able to work for the same employer for 13 hours a day.
“If you can do this with two employers, that is, take your motorcycle and change your workplace, why you don’t have opportunities to do this with an employer, and earn additional 40%,” Kermos are surprised.
This question raises the question of why so many Greeks cannot live on their 40-hour jobs and have to rely on overtime or two jobs to fulfill the end. The European Union’s Statistical Office, Eurostat reports that Unani works 1,886 hours per year, more than a European European nation. Nevertheless, despite this, the productivity of Greeks is low – Probably because they do a lot of work – And lower purchasing power than most European people (30% below the European Union average). Therefore, although Greeks are already working for several hours, the government wants to increase its worker even more.
Greek trade union in arms
The Greek Trade Union Federation GSEE rejected the 13-hour working day employed. In Athens, opposition to upcoming labor rights “is not a recovery, human flexibility is a limit of flexibility.”
The GSEE is promoting 37.5 hours per week to reduce the work hours, as is already in many European countries.
In his call for a general strike on 1 October, the GSEE leadership took a great tone: “Greek workers, who already work hours per year compared to any of their colleagues in the European Union, and many of which report burnouts and overwork, are facing a diastopia.
Does this strike want 13 hours of working day to remain for lakes. In any case, Greece appears to move towards the labor market liberalization at a time when people in the European Union are demanding a 35-hour or four-day week.
This article was translated from German