Greece labour law protests bring public transport to a halt | Labour Rights News

Unions are protesting in opposition to authorities plans to permit prolonged working hours, together with shifts of as much as 13 hours.

A nationwide strike in Greece over authorities plans to amend labour legal guidelines to permit prolonged working hours has paralysed public transport and disrupted different public providers.

Taxis and trains in Athens will probably be unavailable through the 24-hour strike on Wednesday, whereas buses, in addition to the town’s subway, tram and trolley providers, reduce operations. Ferries had been tied up in port.

The strike, referred to as by unions representing civil servants and personal sector employees, is about to interrupt quite a few public providers, together with in faculties, courts, public hospitals and municipalities. Protest marches are deliberate in central Athens and all through the nation round noon (09:00 GMT).

The unions referred to as for the motion to protest deliberate labour regulation adjustments that can introduce extra flexibility, together with permitting additional time that would stretch shifts to 13 hours a day. Underneath the brand new laws, working hours that embody additional time can be capped at 48 hours per week, with a most of 150 additional time hours allowed per yr.

Unions argue the brand new guidelines would go away employees weak to labour abuses by employers. “We are saying no to the 13-hour [shift]. Exhaustion will not be growth, human tolerance has limits,” the personal sector umbrella union, Common Confederation of Greek Staff (GSEE), mentioned in an announcement.

The reform, GSEE mentioned, “endangers the well being and security of employees and destroys the steadiness between skilled and private life”. It referred to as for a 37-and-a-half-hour working week and the return of collective bargaining agreements.

Greece’s conservative authorities, nevertheless, argues that the proposed adjustments would profit employees who desire a extra versatile labour market, together with the choice to work extra. It careworn the reform would apply just for as much as 37 days a yr and supply employees the prospect to get 40 p.c additional time funds

“We assure a freedom of alternative for each the employer and the worker. Why would that be delinquent?” mentioned Greece’s conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this month.

Regardless of falling unemployment and sustained development, which based on the European Fee clocked 2.3 p.c final yr, low wages remain one of the main concerns for Greeks, together with the excessive value of residing.

The minimal wage, though raised, stands at 880 euros ($1,031) per 30 days.