Greece recently introduced a controversial six-day working week for some businesses in an effort to boost productivity and employment in the country. The new regulation allows employees of private businesses providing round-the-clock services to work an additional two hours per day or an extra eight-hour shift, potentially extending the traditional 40-hour workweek to 48 hours. Food service and tourism workers are excluded from this initiative. While the government claims the measure is worker-friendly and growth-oriented, labor unions and political observers have criticized it as a major setback. Greek workers already put in long hours, with an average of 1,886 hours worked in 2022, surpassing the US and EU averages. This move comes at a time when many countries are exploring shorter working weeks, with some companies even adopting a four-day workweek permanently. A report by think tank Autonomy showed that most companies in a trial of the four-day workweek had positive feedback. While some concerns were raised about the impact on staff if the additional day off was not guaranteed or tied to meeting certain targets, overall, the benefits of a shorter workweek were recognized. Critics argue that Greece’s decision to implement a six-day workweek contradicts the trend towards shorter working hours in other countries, highlighting the potential negative consequences for workers and the country’s labor market.
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