The Greek Ministry of Labour has come under pressure after new Eurostat data ranked Greece first in the European Union for overwork. The figures suggest that more Greeks work long hours compared to any other EU country, sparking political debate over working conditions.

According to Eurostat, in 2024 about 6.6% of workers aged 20–64 across the EU worked 49 hours or more per week at their main job. Greece recorded the highest share at 12.4%, followed by Cyprus (10%) and France (9.9%). At the other end of the scale, Bulgaria reported just 0.4%.

The ministry has disputed the findings, separating the numbers for employees and the self-employed. It claimed that for wage earners, Greece recorded its lowest level of overwork on record—3.1%, slightly below the EU average of 3.4%. In 2019, the figure had stood at 5.1%.

Officials argued that much of the reported overwork comes from self-employed workers, a long-standing feature of Greece’s economy rather than a new development. They also stressed that even among the self-employed, rates have declined compared with previous years.

Critics, however, note that the government is currently legislating extended working hours—sometimes described as a 13-hour working day—at a time when other EU countries are reducing working time. This has fueled accusations that Athens is trying to downplay Eurostat’s findings.

The Ministry of Labour defended its record by highlighting other indicators. Unemployment has dropped to 7.9% in May 2025, ten points lower than in 2019. More than 500,000 jobs have been created in the last five years, three out of four being full-time. The ministry also pointed to the rollout of the digital work card, designed to track actual working hours, and an increase in labour inspections, with more than 79,000 checks and €49.5 million in fines imposed in 2024.

Despite these measures, Greece still has the highest proportion of self-employed working long hours in the EU, with 33.5% of those without employees and 43.9% of those with employees exceeding 49 hours per week.

The government insists the overall labour market is improving, but the debate over Eurostat’s figures has highlighted a continuing divide between official policy and the daily reality faced by many workers.