GREECE Law and Practice Contributed by: Nikolas Sigkridis, Semina Zavitsanou, Chrysa Kalantzi and Yannis Ragos, POTAMITISVEKRIS
• the training provided by the employer, if applicable; • the duration of annual paid leave, as well as how and when it is granted; • the procedure to be followed by both employer and employee in the event of termination of the contract or employment relationship – particularly with respect to the obligation of written notice, any notice periods, severance pay entitlements, and whether there is a requirement for a justified reason; • the remuneration of any kind to which the employ - ee is entitled, including the frequency and method of payment; • the working hours; • the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) that sets out the employee’s minimum pay and working conditions, as well as the signatory parties to such agreement; and • the social security institutions with which the employee is registered, and any other employer- provided social insurance benefits. 1.3 Working Hours The statutory working time of an employee working full-time in Greece is 40 hours per week, allocated on a five or six-day basis. It has been clarified that when a five-day weekly work system is implemented the full working hours amount to eight hours per day, while when a six-day weekly work system is implemented the full working hours amount to six hours and 40 minutes per day. Overwork from the 41st to 45th hour (five-day work - ing schedule) and from the 41st to 48th hour (six-day working schedule) is paid with a 20% augment to the paid hourly wage. Overtime (more than nine hours per day and 45 or 48 hours per week) is as follows. • Legitimate overtime: up to 150 hours a year (and up to three hours per day). Each hour is paid with a 40% augment to the paid hourly wage; above the 150-hour limit, with prior permission from the competent body of the Ministry of Labour in urgent cases where the execution of certain work is abso - lutely necessary and cannot be postponed, each
hour is paid with a 60% augment to the paid hourly wage. • Overtime for which the provisions of law have not been followed is paid with a 120% augment to the paid hourly wage (unlawful overtime). As a rule, the offsetting of extended working hours on one day or week with reduced hours on another day or week is not permitted. Exceptionally, this is allowed if a working time arrangement is agreed upon. In such cases, variations in working hours (between periods of increased and reduced working hours) do not lead to additional payment for overwork and/or overtime, provided the average working time is maintained. 1.4 Compensation Statutory Minimum Wage The minimum wage in Greece is set by law and is periodically adjusted by the government. As of 1 April 2025, the gross statutory minimum salary and wage for full-time employment across the country has been set as follows: • for white-collar workers – the minimum monthly salary is set at EUR880; and • for blue-collar workers – the minimum daily wage is set at EUR39.30. Moreover, it is noted that for those workers who are paid with the statutory wage or salary the period of service – under an employment relationship – which has been spent with any employer and in any special - ity before 14 February 2012 and after 1 January 2024 is recognised as seniority. According to the above, seniority-based salary incre - ments are set as follows: • for white-collar workers – a 10% increment is granted for every three years of service and up to three three-yearly periods (ie, a maximum of 30% for nine or more years of service); and • for blue-collar workers – a 5% increment is granted for every three years of service and up to six three- yearly periods (ie, a maximum of 30% for 18 or more years of service).
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