Greece is the first country in the EU to implement a six-day workweek

Greece has controversially introduced a six-day week for some companies in an effort to boost productivity and employment in the southern European country.

The rule, which came into force on July 1, goes against a global trend of companies considering shortening the working week.

Under the new law, passed last year as part of a broader labour law package, employees of private companies offering 24-hour services will reportedly be able to work two extra hours per day, or work an extra eight-hour shift.

The change means that the traditional 40-hour workweek could be extended to 48 hours in some companies. Employees in the catering and tourism sectors will not be affected by the six-day week.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ pro-business government described the measures as “worker-friendly” and “deeply growth-orientated”. They are aimed at supporting employees who are not being adequately paid overtime and addressing the issue of undeclared labor.

Labor unions and political observers have sharply criticized the move.

Giorgos Katsambekis, a lecturer in European and international politics at Britain’s Loughborough University, said the Greek government’s introduction of the labor law is a “a major step back” for workers who are already among the longest-working in the European Union.

According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Greek workers work more hours than those in the United States, Japan and the rest of the EU’s 27 member states.

Greek workers will work an average of 1,886 hours in 2022, higher than the U.S. average of 1,811 hours and the EU average of 1,571 hours.

“Greek people already work the longest hours per week in Europe. Now they may be forced to work a sixth day, after this Greek [government] decision,” John O’Brennan, professor of EU Law from Maynooth University, Ireland, said via social media platform X on Monday.

“It is ridiculous, set against the move to four day weeks in most civilised countries,” he added.

A report published earlier this year by think tank Autonomy found that most of the companies participating in the world’s largest four-day week trial have made the policy permanent.

All project managers and CEOs surveyed from companies that participated in the test said the four-day week had a positive impact on their companies, with more than half describing the impact as “very positive.”

However, the report found that employees in companies where the guarantee of additional leave was weak or only tied to the achievement of certain targets had some concerns.