Mass protests erupted across Greece on Wednesday as thousands of workers and union representatives took to the streets, effectively bringing the country to a standstill. The nationwide demonstrations were part of a general strike opposing the government’s new labour laws, which permit workdays of up to 13 hours.
The 24-hour strike caused widespread disruption as employees from both public and private sectors ceased work in solidarity. In Athens, taxis and trains were entirely non-operational, while buses, subways, trams, and trolleys ran on limited schedules. Across the country, services including schools, courts, public hospitals, and municipal offices were also severely affected.
In major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, public transport ground to a halt, and essential workers such as teachers, hospital staff, and civil servants joined the strike. Maritime activity was also disrupted, with ferry crews keeping vessels docked in ports in adherence to union directives.
Beyond the opposition to labour law reforms, protests also addressed broader issues, including the interception of the Gaza Aid Flotilla and ongoing conflict in Palestinian territories.
‘Modern slavery’: The pushback against new labour laws
Civil service and private sector unions orchestrated the strike to challenge changes that introduce greater flexibility in working conditions, including overtime that could extend individual shifts to 13 hours. The new legislation limits total working hours, including overtime, to 48 hours per week, with a yearly cap of 150 overtime hours.
Union leaders argue that the reforms leave employees exposed to exploitation and unfair treatment. “We say no to the 13-hour shift. Exhaustion is not development, human tolerance has limits,” said the General Confederation of Workers of Greece, calling for a 37½-hour workweek and the restoration of collective bargaining rights.
Meanwhile, the pro-communist union, All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), accused Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government of enforcing “inhumane hours and miserable wages,” describing the changes as “modern slavery.”
This wave of protests echoes similar demonstrations in 2024, when the government proposed a six-day workweek affecting private businesses in tourism and other sectors operating round the clock. At the time, unions condemned the move as “barbaric,” drawing thousands into the streets.
