By Dewi Rina Cahyani
Copyright tempo
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Greece is facing widespread disruption as labor unions stage a massive strike to protest the government’s proposed changes to labor laws, which would allow working hours of up to 13 per day. Public transportation has come to a standstill, and other essential services are heavily affected.In Athens, taxis and trains joined a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, while buses, subways, trams, and city trolleys are operating on reduced schedules. Ferry services remain docked at ports, halting inter-island travel.Al Jazeera reported that the strike was organized by unions representing both civil servants and private-sector workers. Schools, courts, public hospitals, and municipal services are expected to face significant disruptions. Large protests are planned in downtown Athens and across the country around midday.The unions oppose the reform, which introduces greater flexibility, including overtime that could extend shifts to 13 hours a day. Under the proposal, total weekly working hours—including overtime—would remain capped at 48, with a maximum of 150 overtime hours annually.“We reject 13-hour shifts. Human tolerance has its limits,” the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), representing private-sector employees, said in a statement. The unions warn that the reforms threaten workers’ health, safety, and work-life balance while calling for a 37.5-hour workweek and the restoration of collective labor agreements.The conservative Greek government, however, argues that the reforms offer flexibility for workers who wish to extend their hours, limited to 37 days per year, with overtime paid at 40 percent.“We guarantee freedom of choice for employers and employees. Why is that considered antisocial?” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said earlier this month.Despite declining unemployment and 2.3 percent economic growth last year, low wages remain a major concern for Greeks, especially as the cost of living rises. The country’s minimum wage currently stands at €880 per month.According to police estimates reported by the Times of India, more than 8,000 people demonstrated in Athens and Thessaloniki, with protests spreading to other major cities. The pro-communist union PAME denounced the reforms as “modern slavery,” accusing the government of imposing inhumane working hours and inadequate wages.Editor’s Choice: Pakistan: Kashmir Unrest Leaves 8 DeadClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
