13 hours of work every day, THIS country introduces extra work hour policy, faces MASSIVE backlash, its not China, Russia, US, the name is…

More than 8,000 people took to the streets in Athens and Thessaloniki against the reforms proposed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government.

Written by: Victor Dasgupta Edited by: Victor Dasgupta

Published: October 2, 2025, 11:26 AM IST

Share

Share Article

• Facebook
• WhatsApp
• X
• Email
• Telegram
• Linkedin

https://www.india.com/news/world/greece-protest-workhour-thessaloniki-athens-narayana-murthy-infosys-united-states-china-india-russia-gsee-panagiotis-gakas-8110029/ Copy

Image for representational purposes

New Delhi: Greece is witnessing a massive protest over a controversial proposal to increase workers’ hours. A 24-hour strike was called by thousands of workers on Wednesday, causing major disruption in the capital Athens and the country’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki. The strike was against the conservative government’s plan to implement a 13-hour workday.

Public transport, trains, and ferry services were completely halted due to the strike. Teachers, hospital staff, and government employees also participated.

Here are some of the key details:

• More than 8,000 people took to the streets in Athens and Thessaloniki against the reforms proposed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government.
• Reports of protest marches have also come in from other major cities.
• In the capital, Nikos Skoras, a member of the Hairdressers’ Union, told AFP that this law would completely destroy workers’ private lives.
• The major private-sector union GSEE, in collaboration with the public-sector union ADEDY, organized a strike.
• GSEE warned that these reforms would put workers’ health and safety at risk and disrupt the balance between work and personal life.

The communist-backed union PAME accused the government of imposing “modern slavery,” which includes forcing workers to accept inhumane working hours and poor wages. Panagiotis Gakas, a member of the construction workers’ union, said that this law would bring no real improvements; instead, workplace accidents would increase because employees are more at risk when tired during overtime.