Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1) - Greece (Ratification: 1920)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on working time, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 1 (hours of work), 14 and 106 (weekly rest) together.

The Committee notes the observations of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE), received on 29 August 2024.

Hours of work

Article 8(1)(c) of Convention No. 1. Record of additional hours. The Committee notes that in its observations, the GSEE indicates that the implementation of the recently introduced ERGANI II Information System on digital organization of working time has caused confusion and led to abusive practices. The Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding the application in practice of the digital organization of working time and, in particular, whether abuses have occurred or can be detected.

Weekly rest

Article 2(1), (2) and (3) of Convention No. 14 and Article 6(1), (2) and (3) of Convention No. 106. Right to weekly rest. Uniformity of weekly rest. Respect of traditions and customs. The Committee notes that sections 210 and 211 of the Code of Labour Law that codify previous applicable legislation pertaining to exceptions to the provisions on rest on Sundays and public holidays, currently include a long list of sectors for which exceptions are allowed. In its observations, the GSEE indicates that the exceptions allowing work on Sundays and public holidays have been recently expanded. The Committee recalls that the principle of uniformity enshrined in Article 2(2) of Convention No. 14 and Article 6(2) of Convention No. 106 refers to the collective character of weekly rest with a view to ensuring, wherever possible, that it is taken at the same time by all workers on the day established by tradition or custom. The social purpose of this principle is to enable workers to take part in community life and in the special forms of recreation available on certain days (2018 General Survey on working-time instruments, para. 202). The Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which it is ensured that weekly rest is, whenever possible, granted simultaneously to the whole of the staff of each undertaking and so as to coincide with the days already established by the traditions or customs of the country or district, as required in Article 2(2) and (3) of Convention No. 14 and Article 6(2) and (3) of Convention No. 106.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Previous comment

The Committee notes the observations of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE), received on 29 August 2024.

Legislative developments. The Committee notes the adoption of Law No. 4808/2021 on Labour Protection and Presidential Decree No. 62/2025 giving effect to a new Code of Labour Law, which codifies previously applicable legislation. It further notes that the Code of Labour Law was amended through Law No. 5239/2025, adopted in October 2025.

Articles 2(c), 4 and 5 of the Convention. Variable distribution of normal hours of work over periods longer than a week. Circumstances and limits. The Committee notes that the Code of Labour Law provides that: (i) the weekly working time of employees may not exceed 48 hours on average, including overtime, over a period of no more than four months (section 174); and (ii) a system of annualized hours is authorized (section 202), which provides that for periods lasting between one week and 12 months, employees may work up to ten hours per day, provided that the hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week and up to 48 hours on average are deducted from the working hours in another equivalent period. The Committee also notes that according to section 189(2) of the Code of Labour Law, in the context of the arrangement of working time referred to in section 202, full-time employment shall also mean working four days per week. In this respect, the Committee notes that in its observations, the GSEE indicates that the possibility of a four-day working week has been introduced without reducing the total working hours, allowing 40 hours to be spread over four days.

The Committee observes that none of the above provisions sets any precise circumstances for resorting to averaging of working hours. In this respect, the Committee recalls that: (i) the averaging of hours of work in general is authorized in the Convention only over a reference period of one week, and provided that a daily limit of nine hours is required (Article 2(b)); and (ii) in all the other cases in which the averaging of working hours is allowed over reference periods longer than a week, the circumstances are clearly specified, as follows:

(i) in case of shift work, it shall be permissible to employ persons in excess of 8 hours in any one day and 48 hours in any one week, if the average number of hours over a period of three weeks or less does not exceed 8 per day and 48 per week (Article 2(c));

(ii) in those processes which are required by reason of the nature of the process to be carried on continuously by a succession of shifts, the daily and weekly limit of hours of work may be exceeded subject to the condition that the working hours shall not exceed 56 in the week on the average (Article 4); and

(iii) in exceptional cases where it is recognized that the limits of 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week cannot be applied, agreements between workers’ and employers’ organizations may fix a longer daily limit of works, provided that the average number of hours worked per week, over the number of weeks covered by any such agreement, shall not exceed 48 (Article 5).

The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to bring the above provisions into conformity with the requirements of the Convention.

Articles 3 and 6. Exceptions to normal hours of work. Circumstances and limits on the number of additional hours. The Committee notes that under section 194(1) of the Code of Labour Law, the weekly working time may be increased from 40 hours to 45 for those working five days and until 48 for those working six days. The Government indicates that these hours do not count as overtime but fall under the concept of “overwork”. The Committee notes that under section 194(2) and (3) of the Code of Labour Law, work beyond 45 hours per week over a five-day week and beyond 48 over a six-day week is authorized, as long as it follows the procedures and formalities set by law. It also notes that under section 194(4) of the Code of Labour Law, the maximum limit of this overtime is 150 hours per year and four hours per day. In this respect, the Committee observes that: (i) as a result, an employee may work up to 13 hours per day (eight normal working hours, one hour of “overwork” and four hours of overtime); and (ii) with regards to “exceptional overtime” (overtime that is not approved through the formalities and procedures provided for in the law), no maximum limits and circumstances are set. The Committee also notes that in its observations, the GSEE indicates that Law No. 4808/2021 increased overtime limits from 120 to 150 hours per year, with the possibility of further increases through Ministerial Decisions (section 58 of the Code of Labour Law).

In this regard, the Committee recalls the fundamental importance of prescribing clear statutory limits for additional hours of work and of keeping the number of additional hours allowed within reasonable limits that take into account both the health and well-being of workers, and the employers’ productivity needs (2018 General Survey on working-time instruments, paras 151 and 179). It also recalls that temporary exceptions to normal hours of work are authorized in the Convention in very limited and well-circumscribed cases. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary steps to define the exceptional circumstances under which normal hours of work may be increased in industrial establishments and to set clear statutory limits for overtime in accordance with the Convention.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Articles 2, 5 and 6 of the Convention. Daily and weekly limits of hours of work – Uneven distribution of hours of work over a period longer than a week – Temporary exceptions – Overtime. The Committee notes section 42 of Act No. 3986/2011 (O.G. A 152) which permits a system of annualized hours, according to which hours of work may be increased by two hours per day in addition to the contractual eight hours over a certain period of time, provided that the hours in excess of the 40-hour working week, or in excess of any reduced contractual weekly working time, are likewise deducted from the working hours of another period, or alternatively, enterprises may designate 256 working hours out of the total working hours within one calendar year to be distributed by increasing the number of working hours over certain periods of time. In addition, the Committee notes section 10(5) of Act No. 3863/2010, which amends Act No. 3382/2005 and entitles employees to overtime pay equal to 80 per cent the normal hourly rate for exceptional overtime. The Committee recalls, in this respect, its previous comment in which it drew the Government’s attention to the requirements of the Convention that any exceptions to the normal duration of working hours in national legislation and practice: (1) constitute an “exceptional case” where it is recognized that the eight-hour and 48-hour limits cannot be applied (owing to pressure of work), and (2) be introduced through an agreement between workers’ and employers’ organizations transformed into regulation by the Government. While noting the Government’s explanation that exceptional overtime applies to work that is not in compliance with the formalities and procedures of approval provided for by law and, as such, has no legal limit, the Committee is bound to repeat its earlier comment that there seems to be no mechanism in place for the prior control of circumstances which would justify such overtime. On the contrary, it is the very lack of control (in this case, the lack of compliance with formalities and procedures) which appears to justify the use of overtime and, as such, does not appear to be in compliance with the requirements of the Convention. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to take the necessary measures in order to bring its national legislation in line with the requirements of the Convention to authorize overtime in industrial undertakings – either with respect to an annualized system or general weekly system – to exceptional cases of pressure of work. The Committee draws the Government’s attention in this respect to Part V, as well as to paragraphs 227 and 228 of its General Survey of 2005 on hours of work, which provides further explanations and examples of good practice with respect to the procedures for the authorization of extension of working hours.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes the adoption of Act No. 3385/2005 on arrangements for the promotion of employment, the enhancement of social cohesion and other provisions which partially revises regulations on working hour limits, overtime pay and the averaging of working hours over a reference period of four months.

Article 6 of the Convention. Temporary exceptions. The Committee notes that, under section 4 of Act No. 2874/2000, as amended by Act No. 3385/2005, “overtime employment” is defined as any work performed beyond 45 hours per week for those employed on a five-day working week, or beyond 48 hours per week for those employed on a six-day working week. Employees are entitled to overtime pay equal to 150 per cent of regular remuneration for every hour of the first 120 hours of overtime in the year and 175 per cent for every hour exceeding that limit. The law further provides that every hour of overtime which would not fulfil the necessary formalities and conditions is considered to be “exceptional overtime” and is remunerated at 200 per cent of the regular rate. The Committee understands that the legality of overtime is conditional on compliance with certain requirements, such as advance notice in writing, announcement posted up at the workplace and record-keeping but there seems to exist no mechanism for the prior control of the actual existence of circumstances justifying its use. The Committee wishes to recall, in this connection, that the Convention allows for temporary exceptions to the general standard set out in Article 2 only in exceptional cases of pressure of work and further requires the adoption of regulations to this effect by the public authority after consultation with the organizations of employers and workers concerned. The Committee refers also to paragraph 168 of its General Survey of 2005 on hours of work in which it concluded that in many cases the regulation of exceptions from the normal duration of working hours in national legislation and practice does not correspond to the procedural requirements set forth by the Convention. While, under the provisions of the Convention, regulations determining temporary exceptions have to be made by the public authority only after consultations with the organizations of employers and workers concerned, in many countries no such “vertical” consultations are required. Instead, this issue is frequently governed through “horizontal” consultations between these organizations at the level of individual enterprises. In the light of the preceding observations, the Committee requests the Government to indicate (i) whether overtime in industrial undertakings is authorized only in exceptional cases of pressure of work and, if so, to specify the relevant legal provision; (ii) the maximum annual limit for permissible overtime and exceptional overtime.

Part VI of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government concerning labour inspection results for the period 2002–08 and penalties imposed for infringements of the hours of work legislation. The Committee would appreciate if the Government would continue to supply up to date information on the practical application of the Convention, including, for instance, the number of workers covered by the relevant legislation, extracts from reports of the inspection services showing the number and nature of infringements observed and the sanctions imposed, copies of relevant collective agreements, information on the operation of the committees on settlement of working time established under section 41 of Act No. 1892/1990, as last amended by Act No. 3385/2005, etc.