[Greece] State workers strike against labour law plans

In Greece, public sector workers including doctors, teachers and transport staff staged a walkout on September 21 to protest against planned labour law changes, Straits Times reports.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government has stated that the legislative overhaul would eliminate undeclared work and boost employment overall. The opposition, however, describes it as an assault on workers' rights and would create "barbaric" conditions.

Buses and trains were reportedly operating on reduced hours during the one-day nationwide strike while state hospitals operated on emergency staff and many schools closed. The strike was called by Greece's largest public sector union ADEDY 

Workers rallied in central Athens and later marched to parliament to coincide with a debate and vote.

"We demand the bill's withdrawal," said ADEDY, which represents about half a million workers.

The walkout is the first against the Mitsotakis' government since his June re-election.

The bill would allow full-time employees to take a part-time second job and work up to 13 hours a day unless certain terms, such as conflict of interest, apply. It also enables employers to implement a six-day working week if needed.

Under the bill’s terms, an employee can be fired within the first year of work without warning or remuneration, unless agreed otherwise.

It allows a probation period of up to six months but also obliges employers to provide detailed terms of work.

Employers will reportedly face a fine of up to 10,500 euros if they fail to declare an employee's extension of working hours or change of shifts.

The bill introduces fines and a six-month jail term against those who obstruct employees from working during a strike.

Lawmakers with the Syriza leftist party - the main opposition - said earlier this week that the government was pushing "a secret agenda" against workers. Greece's Communist Party KKE has called the bill "monstrous".

Source: Straits Times

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Greece, public sector workers including doctors, teachers and transport staff staged a walkout on September 21 to protest against planned labour law changes, Straits Times reports.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government has stated that the legislative overhaul would eliminate undeclared work and boost employment overall. The opposition, however, describes it as an assault on workers' rights and would create "barbaric" conditions.

Buses and trains were reportedly operating on reduced hours during the one-day nationwide strike while state hospitals operated on emergency staff and many schools closed. The strike was called by Greece's largest public sector union ADEDY 

Workers rallied in central Athens and later marched to parliament to coincide with a debate and vote.

"We demand the bill's withdrawal," said ADEDY, which represents about half a million workers.

The walkout is the first against the Mitsotakis' government since his June re-election.

The bill would allow full-time employees to take a part-time second job and work up to 13 hours a day unless certain terms, such as conflict of interest, apply. It also enables employers to implement a six-day working week if needed.

Under the bill’s terms, an employee can be fired within the first year of work without warning or remuneration, unless agreed otherwise.

It allows a probation period of up to six months but also obliges employers to provide detailed terms of work.

Employers will reportedly face a fine of up to 10,500 euros if they fail to declare an employee's extension of working hours or change of shifts.

The bill introduces fines and a six-month jail term against those who obstruct employees from working during a strike.

Lawmakers with the Syriza leftist party - the main opposition - said earlier this week that the government was pushing "a secret agenda" against workers. Greece's Communist Party KKE has called the bill "monstrous".

Source: Straits Times

(Quotes via original reporting)