Driven by greater flexibility in working hours and simplifying procedures for express hiring, the Labor Ministry is bringing a new labor bill to the Cabinet for approval on June 30.

The aim is to serve and protect workers and meet the needs of businesses.

The key provisions of the bill are:

1. Arrangement of working time on a weekly to annual basis

2. Working up to 13 hours with the same employer

3. overtime and in rotational work

4. Express recruitment even via mobile phone

5. Voluntary departure with one click

6. Mandatory safety coordinators at technical works and construction sites

In the context of the upcoming bill, Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameos is today launching a new round of consultations with the social partners on the Ministry’s draft bill under preparation entitled “Simplification of labour legislation, strengthening workers and health and safety at work”. It will start with the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and will be followed by meetings with the Business and Industry Association (SEV), the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE), the General Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants of Greece (GSEBEE), the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), and the Association of Industries of Greece (SBE).

The draft bill under preparation aims to simplify and accelerate recruitment procedures, reduce bureaucracy, modernize labour provisions, further protect workers’ rights, strengthen health and safety at work, harmonize with the international conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on labour, and strengthen the Labour Inspectorate. At the same time, improved social security provisions are included.

This dialogue is being conducted in parallel with the extensive consultation conducted in recent months between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the national social partners on improving the framework of Collective Labour Agreements and the coverage of workers by them.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameos said: “Today we are starting a new cycle of institutional, but above all substantive dialogue with all national social partners, to discuss a new draft bill of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which is under preparation, aiming at simplifying labour legislation, strengthening workers and health and safety at work. We aim to ensure better working conditions, further strengthen workers’ rights, and meet the requirements of the modern labour market by reducing bureaucracy and modernising provisions of labour law.”