Greece’s parliament was scheduled to vote on Wednesday to approve a controversial labour reform that would permit private sector employees to work up to 13-hour days under exceptional, though specified, circumstances.

This proposed change has ignited significant opposition from both labor unions and opposition political parties. The ruling conservatives are expected to pass the new law, given their strong majority of 156 MPs in the 300-seat chamber, setting the stage for a major overhaul of national labor regulations.

The government has staunchly defended the reform, insisting that the extended 13-hour workday is strictly optional, applies only to the private sector, and is limited to a maximum of 37 days a year.

Labour Minister Niki Kerameus sought to reassure the public, stating on Skai TV on Tuesday: “It requires an employee’s consent.”

She also mentioned that she had received, and subsequently rejected, requests in collective agreements that proposed even longer working hours.

The reform is widely viewed as a measure targeted at Greece’s crucial services sector, particularly during the demanding summer tourism season, effectively enabling employers to meet peak demand without incurring the cost of hiring additional staff.

However, opposition parties and labor unions fiercely argue that, despite the government’s insistence on the “optional” nature of the extended hours, workers will ultimately face the risk of layoffs or professional pressure if they refuse the longer shifts.

This concern was voiced by Stefanos Chatziliadis, a senior member of the civil service union ADEDY, who told AFP during a protest in Thessaloniki on Tuesday: “Our health, both mental and physical, and the balance between personal and professional life are goods that cannot be replaced with money.”

He described the proposed law as extreme, stating: “Making it legal to work from morning till night is not normal and cannot be tolerated by our society. It is truly barbaric. It is inhuman.”

The legal standard working day in Greece is eight hours, with paid overtime available.

Adding to the fears of a slippery slope, a 46-year-old construction company employee named Maria expressed her concern that the reform will lead to broader exploitation, stating: “This is a first step toward extending the working hours; in the private sector, you can’t really refuse, they always find ways to impose what they want.”

The opposition’s concerns are amplified by the current reality: Greeks already work an average of 39.8 hours a week, significantly higher than the EU average of 35.8 hours, according to Eurostat data.

This reform follows the current government’s previous move to legalize a six-day working week, especially during periods of high demand in specific sectors like tourism.