The lack of workforce is putting Greece in front of some problems. Workforce is lacking everywhere. And tourism is suffering because of it. The solution? The work schedule will be extended by one day starting July 1.
After 15 years of crisis and three „rescue packages” with severe austerity measures, in Greece the work schedule is no longer strictly regulated. The tariff agreements concluded between the employers and the trade unions have been frozen for years, and in numerous enterprises, the employees work based on individual employment contracts.
The 40-hour workweek is still valid, but employers can demand for a limited time up to two additional unpaid work hours per day, offering more free time in return.
In theory, this is benevolent, but in practice, employees are forced to work longer hours without being rewarded in various enterprises.
The enforcement of labor laws is rarely monitored by the authorities, who are also facing a severe shortage of staff. The work of the control bodies is not a priority for the conservative government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Greeks are European champions
Before the law on the six-day workweek comes into force, Greeks are "heroes of labor" in Europe.
They work an average of 41 hours per week, more than in the rest of Europe, according to Eurostat statistics.
And for this, they are quite poorly paid. With a minimum wage of 830 euros, Greece ranks 15th among EU countries. And in terms of purchasing power, Greece ranks second to last in Europe, ahead of Bulgaria.
Employer's right
And the future does not look too promising. Starting July 1, many workers in industry, retail, agriculture, and service industries will work six days a week if the employer makes this decision. For the sixth day, an additional 40% premium will be paid on the daily wage.
In tourism and gastronomy, this rule will not apply, as in these sectors, the five-day workweek is no longer valid from 2023.
"By Law 5053/2023, the five-day workweek has definitively died," said Aris Kazakos, a former labor law professor at the University of Thessaloniki.
The renowned jurist warns that the employer will have full powers over the employees. Given that work on the sixth day depends on the employer's discretion, employees have no means of defense.
Kazakos advocates for collective labor contracts, gradually abolished by laws imposed by the conservative government.
"In individual negotiations, the employer is the absolute sovereign, practically dictating all the conditions they want, except for the minimum rights guaranteed by labor laws. If the laws are relaxed, even this minimal framework of protection will disappear.
Since the employer can dictate advantageous working conditions for themselves, this automatically means that labor relations represent an unjust regime, as serving only one party in a labor relationship can never be fair," he explained.
Officially, the six-day workweek is being introduced because the Greek labor market lacks qualified personnel. But ultimately, this makes overtime work cheaper for the employer, as they are not required to hire additional staff.
Increased security risks
In most European countries, trade unions fight to shorten the work schedule without salary losses.
The goal is, among other things, to occupy the workforce. Because a 35-hour workweek or a four-day workweek limits the number of overtime hours and forces employers to hire additional staff.
At the same time, there are studies that prove that this also increases work productivity.
The new law in Greece regarding the six-day workweek turns back the clock, as Kazakos emphasized for DW.
He warns that the effort required for a sixth working day per week also increases the risk of work accidents for employees in the industry. In 2023, Greece had 179 fatal work accidents. The previous year saw 104 cases of death. This represents a dramatic increase.
Modern slavery?
Low wages, limited career opportunities, and increasingly longer working hours without significant salary increases force many Greeks to seek work abroad. And more and more refuse to work in tourism because the working conditions there resemble modern slavery.
On beloved holiday islands such as Mykonos and Santorini, seasonal workers have to toil seven days a week.
Moreover, they are often accommodated in overcrowded spaces, living and sleeping with up to 10 people in the same room.
But at least on Mykonos, they are well paid, which is not the case in less-known vacation spots.
Therefore, hotel owners in regions like Chalkidiki in northern Greece cannot find enough staff, even though the area is popular among tourists. Many of them can only open their hotels and restaurants this summer with delays. The idea of paying their employees better and offering them better working conditions has only come to a few of them.