Greeks strike again against 13-hour work reform

Thousands of Greek workers person erstwhile again taken to the streets for the country’s 2nd wide strike this month, protesting against authorities plans to present an optional 13-hour workday.

The mobilisation unopen down nationalist and municipal services and paralysed ferries and trains, but flights were unaffected.

Public transport successful Athens is besides operating connected reduced hours.

Police said astir 10,000 radical were demonstrating successful the superior Athens and the second-largest metropolis Thessaloniki, with protests besides held successful different large cities.

“This is simply a authorities which, from the very archetypal infinitesimal it took power, afloat satisfies each the demands of the employers,” said Sophia Georgiadou, a 29-year-old retail store worker successful Thessaloniki.

“The measure that provides for 13-hour workdays is fundamentally different effort to legalise modern slavery. They want to take us backmost a century, to work without rights, without a life,” she told AFP.

“Thirteen hours of work means I person nary life. It’s that simple. What is happening successful Greece is dystopian,” said 32-year-old telecoms technologist Kostas Vasileiadis.

The authorities has said the 13-hour workday, to beryllium voted into instrumentality Wednesday, is optional, but absorption parties and unions reason that workers will hazard layoffs if they garbage longer hours.

Another wide strike connected the contented was held October 1.

“This (law) strengthens employees and facilitates businesses,” Labour Minister Niki Kerameus told Skai TV connected Tuesday.

“It (only) concerns the backstage sector… it tin beryllium done for up to 37 days a year, which proportionately is three days a month,” she said, adding that the measurement “requires an employee’s consent”.

The instrumentality will besides broaden benefits for working mothers and allows staff to negociate a four-day working week, she said.

The ineligible working time successful Greece is 8 hours, with the anticipation of performing paid overtime.

Greece has already legalised a six-day working week, particularly during precocious request successful definite sectors including tourism.

Source: AFP