Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Greece Grinds to a Halt as Parliament Readies Vote on 13-Hour Workday Bill

With the ruling party’s absolute majority, approval is widely expected despite union warnings that the plan would weaken labor protections.

Overview

  • Public-sector union ADEDY led a 24-hour strike that shut intercity rail and most ferries and curtailed Athens bus, tram and metro services, though flights continued as normal.
  • Roughly 10,000 people gathered outside Parliament in central Athens during the debate, according to police and ADEDY.
  • The bill would let employers request up to 13-hour days with a 40% overtime premium, limited to 37 days a year, while retaining a 48-hour weekly cap and 150 annual overtime hours.
  • The government describes the measure as modernization to meet business needs, while unions and opposition parties call it a rollback that threatens work–life balance and bargaining power.
  • Private-sector confederation GSEE did not formally join the strike but urged workers to attend protests, marking a second major mobilization in two weeks.