Greek MPs Vote on 13-Hour Workday Bill Amidst Mass Strike

Protests Against Labour Reform Bill

• ✊ Nearly 10,000 workers in Athens participated in a general strike to protest a controversial labour reform bill.
• 📢 The strike disrupted public services, including transport, schools, courts, and hospitals.
• 🚫 This is the second strike this month, with workers stating that working time is not a commodity and they will not work excessively to increase company profits.

Proposed 13-Hour Workday Legislation

• ⚖️ The bill, set to be voted on in parliament, proposes the introduction of a 13-hour workday in the private sector.
• 🗣️ The Labor Minister claims the legislation will boost the private sector and extend worker benefits, insisting the 13-hour day will be voluntary.
• 📉 However, labor unions argue the bill will harm workers' rights and negotiating power, leading to unpaid overtime and fewer insurance contributions.

Economic Context in Greece

• 📉 Despite recovering from a decade-long debt crisis, Greece faces low wages and purchasing power compared to other EU countries.
• 📈 Greece already has the highest share of employees working over 45-hour weeks within the EU.
• 🏛️ This bill is seen as the latest move by the center-right government to increase labor market flexibility, following the introduction of a 6-day work week in some sectors.