Greece Grinds to a Halt as Thousands Protest 13-Hour Workday Law

Greece Shuts Down: Thousands of workers brought Greece to a standstill on Wednesday with a nationwide strike against controversial new labour laws that allow 13-hour workdays. Public transport in Athens and Thessaloniki was halted, ferries remained docked, and services like schools, hospitals, courts and municipalities were disrupted. Unions condemned the law as “modern slavery,” warning it leaves workers open to exploitation and abuse. They are demanding a 37½-hour work week and the restoration of collective bargaining rights. Protests also spilled into broader demonstrations over Gaza, adding to pressure on the government. The sweeping reforms, which cap weekly hours at 48 and set a 150-hour annual overtime limit, have sparked outrage across Greece, with critics calling the changes “inhumane” and “barbaric.”