Greece first EU country to implement a six-day working week

Greece has introduced a controversial six-day working week for certain businesses to boost productivity and employment, according to CNBC.

This regulation, effective from July 1, contrasts with the global trend of companies considering shorter working weeks.

The new legislation, part of a broader set of labor laws passed last year, allows employees in private businesses offering 24/7 services to work an additional two hours daily or an extra eight-hour shift.

Consequently, a traditional 40-hour workweek could extend to 48 hours for some businesses. Workers in food service and tourism are excluded from this initiative.

The Greek Prime Minister has described the measure as “worker-friendly” and “growth-oriented,” aiming to ensure fair compensation for overtime and to address undeclared labor.

Meanwhile, a report by think tank Autonomy earlier this year indicated that most companies in the world’s largest four-day working week trial had adopted the policy permanently.

All the consulted project managers and CEOs of the companies involved in the trial said a four-day working week had a positive effect on their organization, with more than half describing the impact as “very positive.”