Greece’s parliament has approved a contentious labor reform, allowing employers to extend working days to 13 hours under specific conditions. The move has sparked widespread protests and union outrage, as workers are already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. The reform expands the current eight-hour day, with the government claiming it will modernize labor laws and provide employees with the option to work extra hours for the same employer.

According to Eurostat, Greeks already work the most in the EU, averaging 40 hours a week compared to 35 hours across the bloc. The government argues that longer shifts will remain optional, apply only to the private sector, and be limited to 37 days a year. However, labor unions have denounced the law as a blow to workers’ rights, citing stagnant wages and soaring living costs.

Union leaders argue that the reform strips workers of negotiating power in a country plagued by undeclared labor and low average wages. Greece is still recovering from its decade-long debt crisis, which ended in 2018 after years of austerity that wiped out a quarter of its economy. Wages remain below pre-crisis levels, and Greeks’ purchasing power is among the lowest in the EU.

The public-sector union ADEDY has warned that the measure amounts to “the abolition of the eight-hour day, the destruction of family and social life, and the legalization of over-exploitation.” Workers have staged two general strikes this month, with the latest taking place on Tuesday. The opposition has accused the ruling party of eroding labor rights and “pushing the country back to the Middle Ages.”

The reform has sparked concerns among workers, who feel that they will be forced to work longer hours without adequate compensation. A 46-year-old construction worker protesting in Thessaloniki stated that “you can’t really refuse; they always find ways to impose what they want.” The issue has highlighted the ongoing struggles of Greek workers, who are facing significant challenges in their daily lives.