Greece's parliament has approved a contested labour bill that would allow 13-hour workdays, despite fierce opposition and nationwide strikes.
The government said it will modernize Greek labour laws, but a spokesperson for the left-wing opposition Syriza party called the bill a legislative monstrosity.
Under the new law, annual overtime is also capped at 150 hours, and the standard 40-hour week remains in place.
The government insists that the longer workday is optional, only affects the private sector, and can only be applied up to 37 days a year.
Thursday's vote was backed by MPs from the ruling centre-right New Democracy party, with centre-left Pasok party - now the main opposition - voting against the bill, while the left-wing Syriza party abstained.
Unions have staged two general strikes demanding the bill's withdrawal this month that brought public transport and services to a standstill.
Labour Minister Niki Kerameus defended the bill, stating the reforms align Greek legislation with modern labour-market realities and accused opposition leaders of misleading the public.
The laws will give workers the option to take on additional hours with the same employer for 40% higher pay while ensuring they cannot be dismissed for refusing overtime.
This complies with European Union working-time rules, allowing flexibility over 12 months.
Participation in the longer work hours is voluntary, intended to provide broader job role satisfaction and less reliance on multiple part-time jobs.
However, opposition parties accuse the government of eroding workers' rights and pushing the country back to a labour middle age. They argue that the new measures exacerbate existing issues, as Greek employees already work longer hours than many Europeans while facing lower wages.
The public-sector union ADEDY critiqued the bill for its potential to abolish the eight-hour workday, risking family and social life, and allowing for over-exploitation.
Greece had already introduced a six-day working week for certain industries to stimulate economic growth. Furthermore, it has the longest average working week in the EU, with the minimum wage ranking low among EU nations.
This new legislation intensifies discussion about workers' rights and economic conditions in Greece as it continues to recover from a prolonged debt crisis.
