Greece Labour Law Protests Paralyse Public Transport Nationwide

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1540 EAT on Wednesday 1 October 2025

A nationwide strike in Greece has brought public transport to a standstill and disrupted key public services, as workers protest government plans to amend labour laws allowing extended working hours.

In Athens, taxis and trains were completely unavailable during the 24-hour strike on Wednesday. Bus, subway, tram, and trolley services operated on reduced schedules, while ferry services were suspended, leaving vessels docked at ports across the country.

The strike, organized by unions representing both civil servants and private sector employees, is expected to disrupt a wide range of public services, including schools, courts, public hospitals, and municipal offices. Protest marches are scheduled to take place around midday (09:00 GMT) in central Athens and across the country.

The strike action was called in response to proposed labour law reforms that unions say will erode workers’ rights. The government plans to introduce more flexibility into the labour market, including provisions allowing shifts of up to 13 hours a day. While the reforms cap total working hours at 48 per week and limit overtime to 150 hours annually, unions argue the measures open the door to exploitation.

“We say no to the 13-hour shift. Exhaustion is not development—human tolerance has limits,” the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), the main private sector union, said in a statement.

GSEE warned that the proposed changes threaten workers’ health and safety and undermine the balance between professional and personal life. The union is calling for the reintroduction of collective bargaining and a standard 37.5-hour working week.

Greece’s conservative government maintains that the proposed labour reforms will benefit employees seeking greater flexibility, including the option to work longer hours if they choose according to aljazeera Officials emphasise that the extended shifts would apply for a maximum of 37 days per year and would entitle workers to a 40 percent overtime premium.

“We guarantee a freedom of choice for both the employer and the employee. Why would that be antisocial?” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said earlier this month, defending the legislation.

Despite falling unemployment and steady economic growth—estimated at 2.3 percent last year by the European Commission—many Greeks remain concerned about low wages and a rising cost of living.

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