In a May Day message aimed at highlighting his government’s labor record, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented what he described as a series of pro-worker reforms, emphasizing rising wages, lower unemployment, and tax relief—while making no reference to criticism surrounding recently introduced extended working hours.
The message, delivered via Instagram video on International Workers’ Day, sought to frame Greece’s labor market as significantly improved over recent years. Mitsotakis also made an unexpected cultural reference, opening with a nod to Greece’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest and artist Akyla, saying: “Before we see whether Akyla ‘brings it home,’ take a look at what we’ve delivered for workers.”
Government Measures in Focus
The prime minister highlighted an increase in the minimum wage from €650 in 2019 to €920 today, presenting it as a cornerstone of his administration’s economic policy. He also pointed to a 10-percentage-point drop in unemployment, which he said corresponds to more than 550,000 new jobs.
He further outlined a broad package of labor and tax measures, including the elimination of income tax for workers under 25, wider tax relief for families with children, and the reinstatement of collective labor agreements. The government has also “unfrozen” seniority-based pay increases—known in Greece as “triennia”—after a 12-year pause, while reducing social security contributions by 5.4 percentage points. Family-focused policies were also highlighted, such as the extension of maternity leave benefits in the private sector from six to nine months.
A key component of the government’s labor policy, according to the prime minister, is the introduction of a digital work card system. The system, now covering nearly two million employees, is designed to record actual working hours and combat undeclared or underreported labor.
Without directly addressing opposition criticism, Mitsotakis preemptively dismissed alternative proposals as “easy slogans” and “unworkable policies.” He framed his government’s approach as grounded in measurable results, stating: “We respond with our work.”
