Greece Pushes Through Controversial Labour Reform Amid Strikes

Protesters gather near the Greek parliament, during a one-day strike as parliament debates a government plan to allow employers to extend working hours and other labour reforms, in Athens, Greece, October 14, 2025.

Greece’s parliament has approved a sweeping labour reform bill that allows private sector employers to extend working hours, despite widespread protests and nationwide strikes.

The legislation permits employees to work up to 13 hours a day, compared with the current eight, though the extended shifts can only be applied for up to 37 days a year. The conservative government argues the reform will modernize the labour market and boost flexibility in a struggling economy.

Unions and opposition parties, however, strongly condemned the move, calling it a rollback of hard-won workers’ rights. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Athens during the vote, chanting slogans and participating in a 24-hour strike that disrupted public transport and services.

While the government insists the bill includes safeguards—such as protecting employees from dismissal if they refuse overtime—critics argue it undermines work-life balance and risks institutionalizing “hyper-exploitation.”

The reform has sparked one of the most heated labour debates in Greece in recent years, highlighting the tension between economic competitiveness and social protections.