Strike in Greece against the labor reform that would enable a six-day week and 13-hour days

Thousands of people marched this Thursday in Greece and different unions called for a 24 hour strike in various sectors in protest against a new flexibility law of the labor market, which particularly affects employees of private companies.

Officials, medical personnel, teachers and dockers supported the mobilization against the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The protest also forced the closure of the metro Athens. The national strike The one-day event was called by the largest Greek public sector union, ADEDY.

The Minister of Labor, Adonis Georgiadis, He defended himself by stating that the objective of the law is to “stimulate employment” and “increase the number of viable and correctly paid positions.” On Wednesday, unknown persons painted red graffiti calling it “garbage” at the entrance of the building that houses its offices in Athens.

Labor reform: what the project says

The bill would allow full-time employees to take on a second job on a part-time basis and to work up to 13 hours a day. It would also allow employers to implement a six-day work week.

“It leaves the door open for us to work up to 13 hours (a day), and up to the age of 74,” declared Lambrini Christoyanni.president of the union that represents employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, in reference to the retirement reform that raised the retirement age.

“It also puts an end to workers’ demands for wage increases, increases they deserve,” Christoyanni added. The law also prohibits strikers from preventing a worker from performing their duties during a strike.

According to the opposition parties, the conservative government will thus worsen the exploitation of workers in an already poorly regulated labor market, and in which many fear losing their jobs.

In July, the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has already adopted a law that allows people to work after age 74, that is, seven years beyond the retirement age.

The prime minister, re-elected in June for a second four-year term, has committed to reducing the unemployment rate in Greece, currently 10.8%, to 8% by 2027.