Greece introduces six-day week

Greece introduces six-day week

More work seems to be the order of the day in Greece. A six-day week is expected to be introduced in the country from July 1st. This measure, aimed at combating the shortage of skilled workers, will be voluntary in the private and publicly controlled sectors. It is expected that the new regulation will have a positive impact on combating undeclared work while at the same time increasing flexibility in the labor market and boosting employment overall.

Although the introduction of the six-day week in Greece was not without controversy due to protests from opposition parties and trade unions, the government sees this measure as an opportunity to adapt to the reality of the world of work. The law stipulates that employers must pay a surcharge of 40 percent for the sixth working day and employees are allowed to work a maximum of eight hours per day. On Sundays and public holidays there is even a 115 percent increase in salary.

The legal introduction of the six-day week in Greece also has tax advantages for the state. Many Greeks are forced to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet. This leads to many working more hours for the same employer or doing undeclared overtime. The new law changes this, resulting in higher social security contributions and tax revenue for the state.

Although plans for a four-day week have been discussed in Germany in the past, surveys show that a similar model would also be popular in Greece. According to a job portal, 55 percent of job seekers want a four-day week with full pay, while 45 percent prefer a five-day week with 20 percent more pay. This shows that the discussion about working hours and pay is still present in Greece.