Greek parliament moves to approve controversial 13-hour workday reform amid strikes

Greece’s parliament is set to approve a new labour reform that allows employees to work up to 13 hours a day under certain exceptional circumstances, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from trade unions and opposition parties.

The bill, backed by the ruling conservative New Democracy party which holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament, seeks to “modernize” Greece’s labour laws and increase flexibility in the private sector. The government argues that the measure is optional, limited to specific industries, and can only be applied for a maximum of 37 days per year.

However, unions have denounced the reform as exploitative and regressive, warning that it would erode long-standing worker protections and normalize overwork. The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the public sector union ADEDY staged two nationwide strikes this month, including one on Tuesday that paralyzed transport services, schools, and public offices across the country.

During Tuesday’s protests in Athens and Thessaloniki, thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets chanting slogans against what they describe as “modern slavery.” Labour groups accuse the government of bowing to corporate interests and undermining fair labour standards won through decades of struggle.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ administration has defended the legislation, insisting that it aligns Greece’s laws with European labour directives and provides flexibility for employees who wish to take on additional work hours voluntarily.

Despite the uproar, the reform is expected to pass easily in parliament, further fueling tensions between the government and organised labour. Analysts warn that the move could deepen divisions within Greece’s workforce, which continues to grapple with low wages and high living costs following years of austerity and economic reform.