Remarks: Greek legislation is in general only available in Greek. Therefore, no url were provided to the relevant legislation. Additionally, due to research constraints, it might be possible that relevant Acts have been missed. However, the data in this database have been reviewed by the Ministry of Employment and Social Protection, Greece and are therefore to be considered as up to date.
SOURCES
Name of Act
Presidential Decree of 27 June 1932, on the codification and addition of provisions on eight-hour working time, Official Gazette 212/A/04.07.1932, as amended
Name of Act
Collective Agreements of 14 February 1984
Name of Act
Act 3385/2005, on Promotion of Employment and other provisions
Name of Act
Presidential Decree 515/1970 on working time limits, Official Gazette 95/A/22.04.1970
Name of Act
Act 3302/2004 on the regulation on employees` annual leave and other provisions, Official Gazette 267/A/28.12.2004
Name of Act
Presidential Decree 88/1999 on minimum provisions for organising work in compliance with Council Directive 93/104/EC, Official Gazette 94/A/13.05.1999, as amended by Presidential Decree 76/2005, Official Gazette 117/A/19.05.2005.
Name of Act
Act 4504/1966 on the amendment and addition of provisions of labour legislation and other provisions, Official Gazette 57/A’/14.03.1966
Name of Act
Act 539/1945 on granting of annual holidays with pay to employees, Official 229/A/06.09.1945
Name of Act
Ministerial Decision 18310/1946 on the specification of economic support, Official Gazette B/07.06.1946
Other source used
National General Collective Labour Agreement for 2008-2009
Historical data (year indicates year of data collection)
2007: 8 hours
Maximum limit of 10 hours (including overtime)
Weekly hours limit
General limit
40 hours
Collective Agreements of 14 February 1984
Historical data (year indicates year of data collection)
2007: 40 hours
Maximum limit (including overtime) of 48 hours.
1995: 48 hours.
Reference period(s)
The 40 weekly working hours can be averaged over one year. However, the maximum of 48 hours (including overtime) in average over a 4-month period shall in general not be exceeded.
Collective Agreements of 14 February 1984 Presidential Decree 88/1999 §6
OVERTIME WORK
Criteria for overtime
General
Three types of overtime work should be distinguished: (1) Overtime work from the 41st to the 45th or from the 41st to the 48th (depending on whether the company operates on a five- or a six-day week, distributed equally to all days)) at the employer’s discretion; (2) ""Statutory overtime exceeding maximum working hours"" : Hours worked in excess of 45 hours during a five-day week or 48 hours during a six-day week subject to legal formalities and Labour Inspectorate’s approval; (3)""exceptional overtime"": Hours worked in excess of 45 hours during a five-day week or 48 hours without the procedures provided for by law having been carried out.
Act 3385/2005 §4
Limits on overtime hours
General limits
4 hours per day.
Presidential Decree 515/1970
Historical data (year indicates year of data collection)
1995: 3 hours per day, 120 hours a year.
Restrictions/exceptions
The total amount of working time per day shall not exceed 12 hours. 48 hours in average (including overtime) per week over a 4-month period.
Overtime work from the 41st to the 45th or from the 41st to the 48th hour (depending on whether the company operates on a five- or a six-day week) is compensated at the current hourly wage, increased by 25%.
The working hours beyond the 45th or 48th (six-day week) are paid at a rate increased by 50% of the hourly wage until 120 hours have been worked in a year, and at a rate increased by 75% of the hourly wage for hours worked beyond 120 hours.
Act 3385/2005 §1 Presidential Decree 88/1999 §3
Historical data (year indicates year of data collection)
2007: Overtime work from the 41st to the 45th or from the 41st to the 48th (depending on wether the company operates on a five- or a six-day week) is compensated at the current hourly wage, increased by 25%.
The hours of overtime working hours beyond the 45th or 48th (six-day week) are paid at a rate increased by 50% of the hourly wage until 120 hours have been worked in a year, and at a rate increased by 75% of the hourly wage for hours worked beyond 120 hours.
1995: 25% premium for the first 50 hours; 50% up to 120 hours; 75%n thereafter. (75% for work on Sundays and public holidays)
REST PERIODS
Rest breaks
General provisions
Work may be interrupted by rest breaks, of at least 15 minutes every six hours.
Presidential Decree 88/1999 §4
Historical data (year indicates year of data collection)
2007: Work may be interrupted by rest breaks, of at least 15 minutes every six hours.
1995: No legal provision.
Daily rest periods
Duration
After their daily work, workers must have an uninterrupted rest period of at least 12 hours.
Presidential Decree 88/1999 §3
Historical data (year indicates year of data collection)
2007: After their daily work, workers must have an uninterrupted rest period of at least 12 hours.
1995: No generally applicable provision.
Weekly rest periods
Duration
» General
Minimum of 24 consecutive hours in which Sundays and the 12 continuous hours of daily time off are included.
Presidential Decree 88/1999 §5
Historical data (year indicates year of data collection)
1995: 24 hours.
Day specified
» General
Sunday
Presidential Decree 88/1999 §5
ANNUAL LEAVE AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
ANNUAL LEAVE
Duration
» General
Workers on a five-day week are entitled to a 20 working days or 24 working days for six-day week workers. The leave entitlement is increased by one working day for each year of employment in addition to the first year, up to 26 working days, or up to 22 working days if the undertaking operates a five-day week.
Act 3302/2004 §1
Historical data (year indicates year of data collection)
2007: Workers on a five-day week are entitled to a 20 working days or 24 working days for six-day week workers. The leave entitlement is increased by one working day for each year of employment in addition to the first year, up to 26 working days, or up to 22 working days if the undertaking operates a five-day week.
1995: 4 weeks (20 working days on a 5-day basis)
» Exceptions
Leave after 25 years of service amounts to 31 days in case of a 6-day workweek and 26 days in case of a 5 days workweek.
National General Collective Labour Agreement for 2008-2009 §3
Payment
» Amount
Normal rate pay plus a leave allowance equivalent to an additional half salary.
Act 3302/2004 §3 Act 4504/1966 §3
Work during annual leave
An employee is not entitled to cash out annual leave. Any agreement for the employer to purchase the entitlement is null and void.
Act 539/1945 §4
PART-TIME WORK
General provisions
Partial employment is possible. It requires written documentation, an equivalent treatment with a full-time worker and the right of priority to full-time employment. Part-time workers working for less than 4 hours per day are entitled to a minimum wage increase of 7,5 %.
Act 2639/1998: §2 Act 2874/2000: §7
Remarks: This information was provided by the Ministry of Labour, Greece.
NIGHT WORK
Criteria for night work
Night work is considered the working period between 10 pm and 6 am.
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