Jorge Pueyo issues this warning to Spain after Greece tightens its working hours

While the Spanish government is trying to negotiate with employers to reduce the weekly working day to 37.5 hours, in Greece what is known as the “Georgiadis Law” has been implemented. This labor reform allows companies to introduce a sixth working day and adapt employees’ schedules to production needs.

The reform also allows workers to voluntarily work a second job for up to five hours per day in addition to their main activity for eight hours. This means they can work up to 13 hours a day.

According to the Greek executive, this measure covers an “exceptional situation”, as in specific periods there is a shortage of supply of specialized workers in certain sectors that must be covered in some way.

Yolanda Díaz, Second Vice President of the Government and Minister of Labor, had already criticized this labor reform last September, when it was approved. “Very concerned about this news coming out of Greece. This is the path to inclusion: less time, worse life, lower cost economy. We will continue to work to put the economy in harmony with life and the planet,” he wrote on Twitter, formerly X.

Words that prompted a surprised reaction from his Greek counterpart, Adonis Georgiadis. “We received Greece in a much worse situation than Spain, and today we are in a much better situation. Dear Mrs Diaz could ask us for advice on how to reduce unemployment in her country, which is unfortunately a leader in this regard,” the Greek minister reflected.

Sumar’s deputy and spokesperson, Jorge Pueyo, took advantage of the implementation of the labor reform to criticize this model and warn of what could happen in Spain. “This proves that powerful people can do whatever they want with us when they make one part of society drunk and unconscious and make the other part prioritize xenophobic, sexist and patriotic discourses, rather than what really matters.” It is written in X.