Greece has enacted a law that permits a six-day workweek in certain industries, diverging from the global trend toward a shorter workweek. The law, known as Law 5053/2023, applies to Greece's industrial and manufacturing sectors, or businesses operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with some exceptions.
Greece's new law gives employers in some industries, including businesses that offer 24/7 services, the right to compel employees to work a sixth day in return for an additional 40 percent of their daily wage added to their regular daily wage on the extra working day.
Greek labour law (Royal Decree 748/1966) prohibits all industrial, craft, commercial and professional activity in general on Sundays (between midnight on Saturday and midnight on Sunday) and on official public holidays, therefore also prohibiting employment of the relevant employees.
Greece had the longest average workweek in the European Union last year. Working-age people spent an average of 39.8 hours at their jobs, compared with the bloc's average of 36.1 hours.
Samsung this year mandated a six-day workweek for executives after posting lackluster financial results. Greece recently became the first European Union nation to introduce a six-day workweek for some industries, in an effort to boost employment and productivity.
Some countries have adopted a six-day workweek and one-day weekend (6×1), which can be Friday only (in Djibouti, Iran, Somalia and Libya), Saturday only (in Nepal), or Sunday only (in Mexico, Colombia, Uganda, Eritrea, India, Philippines, and Equatorial Guinea).
In 2024, 22% of respondents to APA's Work in America survey said their employer offered a 4-day workweek, compared with just 14% in 2022 (2024 Work in America Survey: Psychological Safety in the Changing Workplace, APA, 2024). To be clear, not all 4-day workweeks are created equal.
FAQs about Minimum Wage in Greece
As of April 1, 2024, the minimum daily wage for manual workers is set at €37.07. For employees, the monthly minimum wage is €830. Assuming a standard 40-hour workweek, this equates to an approximate hourly rate of €5.19.
According to Greek law every Sunday of the year is a public holiday. In addition, there are nine mandatory, official public holidays: New Year's Day, 6 January, Clean Monday, 25 March,Orthodox Good Friday, Orthodox Easter Monday, 1 May, Orthodox Whit Monday, 15 August, 28 October, 25 December and 26 December.
Average annual wages in Greece 2000-2023
The average salary in Greece was 17,685 euros per year in 2023, compared with 17,605 in 2022. During this time period, wages in Greece were at their lowest in 2014, when the annual wage was 18,809, and highest in 2009, when it average earnings were 24,005 per year.
The employer covers the first 25 days of absence (considered sick leave) if the employee has been with the company for over a year, or 13 days if the employee has been with the company for less than a year. Any additional days are funded by the social organization (EFKA).
The average cost of living for one person in Greece is $1,146/month while it's $2,433/month in the USA. For a family to live in Greece, the average is $2,794/month vs $5,667/month to live in the United States.
Employees in Greece receive at least 20 days of paid vacation. This applies to regular employees who have 5 working days per week.
4 Day Work Week in Iceland
Iceland is one of the countries most in support of the 4 day work week.
Oxi Day, also referred to as the “Day of No,” is an important part of modern Greek history celebrated annually on Wednesday, Oct. 28. It marks the day when the Greek prime minister rejected an ultimatum given by the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini during World War II.
The currency in Greece is the euro. Each euro is divided into 100 cents.
At tourist areas yes most everything is open. In actual Athens the only things open are most cafes, restaurants, and mini markets. Even on Ermou most of the retail shops are closed.
13th and 14th-month salaries are required by law in Greece and distributed over three months. The 13th month's salary is due at year-end, and the 14th month's salary is divided and paid around Easter and in the summer.
What is a good monthly salary in Greece? The national minimum wage in Greece is €830, while an average monthly salary is €2,440. This amount allows for a comfortable lifestyle in most parts of the country. In larger cities like Athens, a single person needs around €1,180 per month for basic living costs.
In the second quarter of 2024, the average residential sale price in Greece ranged between 566 euros per square meter and 3,750 euros per square meter.
Statutory full-time employment in Greece is defined as 40 hours per week, typically distributed over five days, equating to 8 hours per day. This standard applies across various industries and roles, ensuring consistency in full-time employment expectations.
The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act would: Reduce the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours over four years by lowering the maximum hours threshold for overtime compensation for non-exempt employees.
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Some disadvantages, however, can include scheduling challenges, reduced productivity, and added stress.