Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002875/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)
Two full city buses collided resulting in dozens of injuries, including to young children, as a result of the workers’ exhausting work schedules. The driver had worked two 16-hour shifts and two 8-hour shifts in the preceding days.
The New Democracy Government is promoting a new anti-labour bill, which now provides for 13 hours of daily work for one employer. At the same time, an annual arrangement of working hours is being promoted with slashed overtime pay and the effective abolition of summer leave by cutting it into four. In Greece, almost one worker loses their life every week.
This is an implementation of the anti-worker Directive 2003/88/EC, which provides that employers may employ workers from a few hours a day up to 78 hours a week and for up to 12 days of continuous work without a day off. At the same time, Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on ‘transparent and predictable working conditions’ imposes flexible forms of employment.
In view of the above:
- 1.What is the Commission’s position on the fact that the New Democracy Government is imposing an exhausting 13-hour working day on workers, citing the Commission’s 2023 Interpretative Communication, legalising ‘round-the-clock’ work and putting the lives and safety of workers at risk?
- 2.What is the Commission’s position on the fact that, on the basis of EU directives, the Greek Government is not obliged to make mandatory the collective bargaining agreements that workers have achieved, struggling for permanent and stable employment, with humane working hours of 7 hours-5 days-35 hours, decent wages and health and safety rules in the workplace?
Submitted: 15.7.2025