UK tourists in Greece issued six-day warning which 'makes no sense whatsoever'

Greece is set to change its rules around work - in a move which could impact UK tourists' holidays. Greece, in the European Union, could introduce a a sixth day of labour and move to a six-day week in an unorthodox step aimed at turbocharging productivity.

The measure, decried as “barbaric” by unions, takes effect from Monday. “It makes no sense whatsoever,” said Akis Sotiropoulos an executive committee member of the civil servants’ union Adedy. “When almost every other civilised country is enacting a four-day week, Greece decides to go the other way.”

Prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, says a shrinking population and shortage of skilled workers marks a “ticking timebomb”. The six-day scheme, officials say, will only apply to private businesses providing round-the-clock services but could impact Brits abroad.

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“The nucleus of this legislation is worker-friendly, it is deeply growth-oriented,” Mitsotakis said before the Greek parliament endorsed the law, despite a fierce backlash from unions and residents in the country. “And it brings Greece in line with the rest of Europe.”

“In reality this has been passed by a government ideologically committed to generating ever bigger profits for capital,” said Sotiropoulos. “Better productivity comes with better work conditions, a better quality of life [for employees] and that, we now know, is about less hours not more.”

“What the government is essentially saying is ‘go and work longer, we’ll turn a blind eye even if you’re a pensioner,’” said Grigoris Kalomoiris who heads the union of retired teachers (Pesek). It knows that the majority of Greeks, on an average monthly salary of €900, can only survive until the 20th of the month.

"This latest barbaric measure is not going to solve the fundamental problem of labour shortages and a lot of us feel it is very unfair to unemployed young Greeks who may never have a job.”