The voting on the labor bill, which includes the 13-hour workday, has sparked intense parliamentary confrontation between government and opposition. It is characteristic that the majority of opposition parties demanded its withdrawal, while Minister Niki Kerameos announced a roll call vote, which, as announced during yesterday’s session by presiding officer Olga Gerovasili, will be held tomorrow Thursday at 10 AM.
Before announcing the government’s intention, Niki Kerameos spoke of an initiative that includes significant supportive provisions for workers, such as the extension of pregnancy allowance, prohibition of salary reductions after implementing digital cards, and extension of maternity leave to adoptive mothers.
Androulakis on labor bill: Government systematically unravels worker protection
Intervening during yesterday’s session, PASOK president Nikos Androulakis accused the government of “systematically unraveling the fabric of labor protection, making job insecurity a way of life,” while pledging that PASOK as government would abolish this bill that holds workers hostage. “The bill only protects employer bargaining power, while the 13-hour workday is not a technical arrangement, but the imprint of a conservative policy leading to the dismantling of labor legislation, which was won through many struggles and sacrifices,” emphasized the opposition leader, who pledged that PASOK as government would abolish this legislation that holds workers hostage.
Nikos Androulakis referred in detail to the party’s amendment for restoring the National General Collective Labor Agreement. “We have a different ideology and a completely different political plan,” said Androulakis characteristically, focusing particularly on the “social democratic, European and socially just,” as he characterized it, specific proposal included in PASOK’s regulation. “Our commitment is not merely corrective. It constitutes a reversal of the path toward the employment jungle where you are leading. It forms the foundation for a new Social Contract with dignity, transparency and fair development,” emphasized Nikos Androulakis.
Famellos: Bill of employment medievalism
At the same time, SYRIZA president Socrates Famellos spoke of a bill of “employment medievalism,” emphasizing that the Mitsotakis government “perceives work simply and only as cost, implementing a deeply anti-worker and unjust policy that deepens and multiplies inequalities and only satisfies the interests of the few and powerful and their favors.”
Koutsoumpas on 13-hour workday: “Sick fantasy to name the monstrous bill”
The General Secretary of KKE’s Central Committee, Dimitris Koutsoumpas, characterized it as “sick fantasy” to name the monstrosity “bill for fair work,” at a time when it wants to turn people into zombies who will live to work continuously. Addressing Mrs. Kerameos, he pointed out that if she stepped out of the “narrow party tube,” she could see that people suffer from anti-popular policy. “What kind of people are you who defend dehumanization?” he emphasized at another point.
Haritsis: Called on government to withdraw the labor bill
New Left president Alexis Haritsis exercised sharp criticism of the government, speaking of “legitimizing work exhaustion” and “handbook of cheap development.” He also emphasized that this is an anti-reform of class animosity and arrogance and called on the government to withdraw the bill and for the Right to leave the country’s governance along with it.
Kerameos: Opposition spoke of “supposed 13-hour workday”
For her part, Labor Minister Niki Kerameos, wanting to deflect opposition criticism, spoke of “supposed 13-hour workday.” “You are misleading society! Some deceitfully let it be understood that every worker will work 13 hours a day all year, while the truth is that whoever wants to will work up to 37 days a year, meaning three days a month!” the Labor Minister said characteristically. Indeed, she hastened to explain that this possibility exists today in our country for employment with two employers, as well as that the emergency shift regulation concerns 0.1% of businesses. “You called me imaginative. I present you with specific cases where workers themselves request 6-day weeks,” added Niki Kerameos, while depositing in the records, among others, a related request from hotel workers in Heraklion prefecture.
