Big demonstration today in Athens. Public sector workers, including teachers, doctors and transport staff, went on strike in protest Changes in labor law planned by the Conservative government, which was re-elected last June. The demonstrators marched to Parliament, There, lawmakers discussed the planned changes that are expected to be passed this week. Trains and buses ran with limited services, state hospitals worked with emergency staff and many schools remained closed. There are many controversial points in the reform.
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There is the possibility of working up to 13 hours a day up to 74 years old. The 13 hours are achieved with permission to take on a secondary job in addition to the main job. According to the draft lawge, an employee can be dismissed without notice within the first year of employment nor remuneration unless otherwise agreed. The work week can be extended by the employer to six days. Fines will also be introduced up to 5,000 euros and prison until at 6 months for strikers who create “blockades” during strikes and prevent colleagues from coming to work.
The executive branch headed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis states that the reform would eliminate this Illegal work and employment would increase. The unions and the opposition say it is a Attack on workers’ rights, making working conditions barbaric. The Communist Party of Greece The KKE described the draft law as “outrageous”. MPs from the largest opposition party, Syriza, They said earlier this week the government was making progress as it was expected to elect a new leader on Sunday “a secret agenda” against workers.