This is the EU country that recently activated the controversial 6-day work week

Important development in labour matters in an EU country. Last Monday, July 1, 2024, Greece implements its controversial six-day work week.This change is aimed at addressing the shortage of qualified workers the country is facing.

This new six-day work week It was approved by the Greek parliament last year (despite criticism from the opposition and unions). Specifically, this reform of Greece’s individual labor law code offers workers the possibility to choose to work six days instead of five, in exchange for which they benefit from a flexible schedule.

6th weekly working day It is specifically designed for application to companies in the Greek industrial sector.Which has a continuous production line.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned reform of the Greek Individual Labor Law Code would also allow Greeks can combine full-time jobs with part-time jobsThis is how it grows working day Until 13 hours.

The first criticism of the 6-day working day

The measure has faced strong opposition from a large segment of Greek society. The country’s major unions have warned that the new law will make the 48-hour work week “habitual”, a situation made worse by the country’s low number of labour inspections.

Some critics argue that the measure does not address two of the country’s most important problems: Its high unemployment rate (10.6%) and its low productivity. According to European Commission data, labour productivity per hour worked in Greece is around 40% lower than the European average. According to the Community Executive, this is due to several factors, such as a lack of investment, particularly in advanced technologies, and a shortage of qualified labour. It is estimated that more than half a million educated young people have fled the country since the great financial crisis of the early 2000s.