Six-day workweek and salary supplements to be introduced in Greece

From July 1, 2024, Greece introduced a six-day working week, becoming the first EU country to make such a decision, Liter.kz reports with reference to German wave.

The new schedule will affect workers in industry, retail, agriculture and the service sector.

“Now employers will determine the work schedule, with a 40% bonus to the daily salary provided for the sixth working day. The Greek authorities emphasize that this law will simplify management in companies, reduce the probationary period from 12 to 6 months and make overtime more transparent,” the publication notes.

Before the new law, Greeks were already among the hardest working people in Europe, working an average of 41 hours a week. Despite this, incomes in the country remain relatively low, according to Eurostat.

The minimum wage in Greece is 830 euros, which puts the country in 15th place in this indicator in European countries. In terms of purchasing power, Athens is in the penultimate place in the union.

The average Greek monthly salary is around €1,250, and Prime Minister Mitsotakis recently announced plans to increase it to €1,500 by 2027.