Greece is introducing a six-day working week from 1 July 2024

Greece has introduced a six-day working week for certain industries from 1 July 2024 to boost economic growth.

The new legislation, which came into effect at the beginning of July, allows employees to work up to 48 hours a week, compared to 40. It only applies to businesses that operate on a 24-hour basis and is optional for workers, who are paid an additional 40% for overtime.

However, the Greek government’s move is at odds with workplace culture elsewhere in Europe and the US, where four-day work patterns are becoming more common.

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According to Greek public broadcaster ERT News, Greece six-day working week plan is expected to help tackle undeclared work that leads to tax evasion.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said “the core of this legislation is worker-friendly, it is deeply progressive”, the Guardian previously reported. “And it brings Greece in line with the rest of Europe.”

Greek employees worked an average of 1,886 hours in 2022, higher than the US average of 1,811 and the EU average of 1,571.