Greece introduces the six day work week
Greece’s move to enable a de facto six‑day work week and unpaid extra hours is prompting scrutiny of how the country treats labor amid high unemployment, low wages and a heavily tourism‑dependent economy. Commenters link the reform to broader trends: employers struggling to fill poorly paid, seasonal jobs, rising inequality as productivity gains bypass workers, and EU‑era austerity that many feel hollowed out worker protections. Some see it as a sign of systemic failure and elite collusion on wages, while others argue that regulation, corruption and distorted housing and tourism markets are driving both labor shortages and overwork.
Automation, Productivity, and Working Time
- Many note that a 6‑day week was historically normal and still is in parts of the world; others see this as a regression given modern automation.
- Commenters recall past predictions of very short workweeks due to productivity gains; instead, most people still work full-time or more.
- Explanations offered:
- Productivity gains have largely gone to executives and capital owners, not workers.
- Social expectations and consumerism continually create new “needs,” so total work expands (Jevons‑paradox style).
- Some argue people “like” working or need it for structure; others strongly reject this and prioritize less work.
Housing, Inequality, and Basic Needs
- Several focus on housing scarcity: rising productivity doesn’t matter if constrained housing drives up rents and mortgages.
- Debate over whether housing scarcity is “artificial” (through zoning, permitting, NIMBYism) or simply market forces.
- Broader critique: capitalism is good at producing wealth but poor at distributing it or guaranteeing shelter and food.
Greek Economic Context
- Greece is described as highly reliant on low‑wage, seasonal tourism and construction, with ~11–12% unemployment and significant emigration of young workers.
- Disagreement on tourism margins: some say hotels and beach concessions earn very high profits and underpay staff; others claim small hotels are barely viable, especially without “shady” practices.
- Widespread mentions of corruption, weak labor inspections, off‑the‑books work, and political clientelism; some liken Greece to a “cartel” economy.
- Comparison to other EU periphery countries (e.g., Croatia) facing similar brain drain and poor working conditions.
Details and Ambiguities of the New Law
- The article’s description of:
- Up to two “unpaid” extra hours per day “in return for more free time.”
- A 40% supplement for a sixth workday.
- Commenters find this wording confusing and possibly mistranslated:
- Some interpret it as time‑in‑lieu and 140% pay for the 6th day.
- Others argue in practice unpaid overtime and 6‑day weeks already exist and the law mainly legalizes/extracts more from workers.
Labor Shortages, Wages, and Training
- Thread questions how labor shortages coexist with high unemployment.
- One side: firms could raise wages or improve conditions; refusal to do so reflects collusion, culture, or spite.
- Others argue many businesses can’t raise pay without going under, especially in price‑sensitive tourism.
- Additional factors cited: emigration to better‑paying EU states, weak education for parts of the workforce, and employer reluctance to invest in training if workers can easily leave.
EU, Politics, and Systemic Critiques
- Some blame EU policies and bailouts for a “lost generation,” austerity, and weakened worker protections; others note EU partners also “bailed out” Greece.
- Broader trend noted: rising nationalism, strong corporate lobbies, and use of subsidies/tax breaks that enrich firms while cutting social benefits.
Robots, AI, and the Future of Work
- Mixed views on automation:
- Some see robots/AI as still too immature to matter much; others think “serious automation” is being politically/economically suppressed.
- General point: efficiency tends to unlock more work rather than reduce total work, unless society consciously chooses to trade gains for leisure.