An expanded and updated version of a 12 June collective labour agreement (CLA) will guarantee five-day work weeks for employees in all tourism and food sectors of Greece and compensation for overtime, reports The National Herald citing a decision by caretaker Labour & Social Insurance Minister Patrina Paparrigopoulou. The Labor Ministry said it will go into effect as soon as it is published in the Government Gazette. It is hoped the new CLA will attract more people to filling in staff shortages during the current tourism season. It was reviewed and approved by the Supreme Labour Council.

It covers an overlap in contracts not foreseen in the 12 June CLA and guarantees that if employees work over 5 days a week, they must be paid a day’s wage for every extra day of work. If a work day falls on a Sunday or a holiday, staff must be compensated with an additional 75% on their daily wage. The request for the expanded terms came from unions of both employees and employers.

Based on estimates, the provisions will affect nearly 430,000 workers. It includes those working in restaurants, cafes, as well as couriers who may have individual contracts with such stores.

The CLA’s duration is 2 years and goes into effect retroactively as of 1 March 2023 for members of organizations that signed it, and from the day of publication in the Gazette for those that have not. Wages foreseen are higher than the national minimum wage (from €815 to €1,017 gross), with increases of 4.5% to 5.5% as of June, compared to the wages of the previous CLA. As of June 2024, a further increase of 5% will be introduced in basic salaries, while a series of graded bonuses will also be included (e.g. marriage, tourism training, hazardous work).