Overview
- Parliament approved the conservative government's bill, and the measure will enter into force soon.
- Extended shifts apply only in the private sector for up to 37 days per year and carry a 40% pay premium.
- The law lets employees lengthen their day for a single employer, a setup previously possible only by working for multiple employers.
- Syriza denounced the reform as a legislative monstrosity, refused to participate in the vote, and unions mounted two nationwide strikes that halted ferries and trains.
- Critics say the change threatens the 11-hour daily rest requirement in a country where average weekly hours already exceed the EU average.