Greece Will Pass Bill Allow 13 Working Hours A Day, Labor Unions Strictly Reject!

JAKARTA - The Greek Parliament is scheduled to ratify the Draft Law (RUU) which allows companies to impose working hours for 13 hours a day on Wednesday 15 October.

The Greek government said that 13 hours of work a day are optional, only applies to the private sector, and can only be applied a maximum of 37 days a year.

"This requires employee approval," said Greek Minister of Manpower Niki Kerameus to Skai TV, Tuesday local time, quoted from AFP.

The bill was pushed by the government and ruling conservative parties to have 156 members of parliament in the Greek assembly consisting of 300 people.

The Greek and parliamentary government's efforts were strongly rejected by the unions and Greek opposition parties who had taken to the streets of demonstrations and work strikes that ended yesterday.

This reform in the field of work in Greece is seen as targeting the service sector, especially during the busy summer tourism moments, which allow companies to avoid recruiting additional staff.

Unions and opposition parties strongly reject the bill with the potential for harsh sanctions from companies such as termination of employment if the official refuses an extension of the 13-hour workforce.

"Our health, both mentally and physically, and the balance between personal and professional life, is irreplaceable property by money," said Stefanos Chatziliadis, senior member of the civil servant labor union, ADEDY, during a demonstration on Tuesday in Thessaloniki, Greece.