The Greek Parliament gave the green light this Friday to a controversial law proposed by the conservative Government of Kiriakos Mitsotakis that allows companies in some sectors to impose a sixth working day per week. In addition, it also guarantees that workers who wish to do so can have a second part-time job of up to five hours a day, alongside their main job of eight hours a day. That is, working up to thirteen hours a day except in some exceptions where there may be a conflict of interest.
The Executive has argued that this law will eliminate undeclared overtime and increase employment, but the opposition has cried out against “barbaric” conditions. Thousands of Greeks took to the streets yesterday in the country's largest cities to protest against the Executive's labor law, in a 24-hour strike called by the civil servants' union, which was joined by urban transport workers, health personnel from hospitals, teachers and professors. “We became modern slaves,” read one of the banners.
The law, approved by the 158 deputies of New Democracy, which achieved an absolute majority with the June elections, also establishes that companies that impose a sixth working day must pay an additional 40% of the daily salary to their workers. The Government says this will only happen in extraordinary cases, but unions fear it will become the norm due to the lack of labor inspections.
In addition, it introduces contracts for new on-call employees, who will not have a fixed number of hours per contract but rather will have to come to their position when the company requires it, as long as they give 24 hours' notice. “Leave the door open to work up to 13 hours a day, and until we are 74 years old,” protested Lambrini Christoyanni, president of the union of workers at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The unions also fear that the right to strike will be greatly affected, since blocking workers' entrances or exits will now be punishable by up to six months in prison and a 5,000-euro fine.
The new Greek legislation also allows companies to dismiss a worker without prior notice or compensation during their first year of employment, unless otherwise agreed. It also introduces a trial period of up to six months, and also establishes fines of up to 10,500 euros if employers do not declare workers' overtime or shift changes.
