Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was resolute as he answered a CNN journalist’s question Julia Chatterley for work six days in Greece. The journalist, formulating her question, in fact asked the prime minister to “dispel the myth” that made headlines in many international media, according to which “some kind of six-day working week” was established ” in Greece. Mr. Mitsotakis replied directly “I’m glad you agree with me that this is a myth. Greece does not have a six-day work week.”
The dialogue is as follows:
Julia Chatterley: I have to ask you, I’m sure you’ll be “mad” at me, but you’ve made headlines all over the world and I want you to stop what was – based on what I’ve read now, deeper. – a myth that you introduced some kind of six-day work week.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I’m glad you agree with me that this is a myth. Greece does not have a six day work week. Greece has a five-day working week. In fact, we offer employees the opportunity to work four days, if they complete the 40 hours and agree with their employer. Only in exceptional cases, in businesses that operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day – this is a very small minority -, with the agreement of the employee, an agreement between the employee and the employer and with a significant increase in wages, the add a sixth day of employment.
So, no, Greece has a five-day working week and that has not changed. We take the protection of labor rights very seriously. That is why we have taken tough measures against employers who break the law in their recruitment, we impose very heavy fines. We want to make sure our employees are fully protected. We have, I believe, one of the most sophisticated and modern worker protection legislation in Europe.
Julia Chatterley: Except you, Prime Minister, because I know you work 24/7. Nice talking to you.
Watch the video (in English):