Greek Parliament approves 13-hour working day law

Parliament of Greece on Thursday approved a controversial labor law allowing 13 hour work day. The bill called “Fair employment for all” passed with 156 votes from deputies of the ruling party and 2 independents in a 300-seat parliament. 109 opposition deputies opposed, and SYRIZA abstained.

The adoption of the document was accompanied strikes and mass rallies all over the country. Private and public sector unions said the law “violates fundamental labor rights” and in fact abolishes the eight-hour workday.

“Flexibility” as a euphemism

Association of Civil Servants ADEDY described the law as an attempt “destroy the meaning of family and social life and legitimize super-exploitation”. Employers are given the opportunity to demand extended hours without real control or compensation.

Ministry of Labor in response it stated that the innovations would supposedly allow “work four days instead of five”adding a few hours to each day. However, the trade unions noted: for now 35 hour week will not replace the current 40-hour week, talk about a “four-day week” is nothing more than manipulation.

“Five plus one”: inventions of the ministry

Critics recalled that this is not the first attempt by the department to replace the concepts. A few months ago the minister Niki Kerameos when introducing a six-day working week, she stated: “It’s not six days, it’s five + one”. The new law became a logical continuation of this rhetoric, where reforms are called “fair” and processing is called “flexibility.”

Society’s reaction

Trade unions claim that the document violates European labor protection standards and makes it impossible to combine work and personal life. Economists warn that such a reform will not improve productivity, but will only worsen personnel leakage abroad.

The bottom line is simple: while the government talks about “modernization”, the Greek worker gets the old reality – less rest, more hours and fewer rights.

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