The contradictions surrounding working conditions in the Greek tourism and hospitality sector—particularly regarding wages and housing—are highlighted in the study“Fair Work and Employment Conditions in the Greek Tourism and Hospitality Sector,”which was recently conducted and presented by the University of Piraeus in collaboration with the Universities of Strathclyde, Bournemouth, Nottingham Trent, and Manchester Metropolitan.
As noted in the study, the tourism sector continues to attract skilled and highly engaged workers; however, long working hours, inconsistent enforcement of contracts, and wages that do not always reflect either performance or the rising cost of living are not isolated incidents but recurring features of daily life in the sector. “The danger is not only worker dissatisfaction, but their gradual alienation from the sector,” the report notes.
Wages
According to the survey findings, the concept of“fair pay”is a multifaceted issue for Greek tourism.
Based on the quantitative data, a significant percentage of employees—namely 69%—state that they are paid above the statutory minimum wage and that they are paid for the hours they work. However, nearly three in ten workers (28.9%) report underpayment, including not being paid for all their working hours.
At the same time, only 43.7% clearly state that they are fairly compensated for the work they do, while 26.9% remain neutral on the question of fair pay. This neutrality, according to analysts, suggests that low wages have largelybecome “normalized”in the sector, rather than being openly recognized as unfair.
Based on the qualitative findings of the study, employees consistently describe their pay as inadequate and disconnected from the intensity and demands of the job. The problem, as noted, is not only low wages, but the sense that the work is systematically undervalued. This is particularly evident in reports of long-term wage stagnation.
“After 25 years in the hospitality industry, I’m looking for alternatives because the money I earn from my job is no longer enough for a decent life. The first salary I received when I started in 2000 was 1,000 euros, and today I earn the same amount,” says one of the participants.
The survey also shows that employees view pay not only as a financial measure but also as a sign of recognition and respect. Low wages are not merely considered insufficient, but are often interpreted as an expression of exploitation and devaluation of their work.
In fact, as workers point out, even wages that are standard under current legislation may not be sufficient to ensure basic financial security.
Employment conditions
The picture is also mixed when it comes to contracts. According to the survey, a significant percentage of workers are employed under permanent full-time contracts, indicating a more organized structure compared to the past.
However, flexible forms of employment remain extremely widespread. Nearly half of respondents, specifically 45.9%, state that they have worked in seasonal employment, while 14.1% report that they have not signed a written employment contract.
Another particularly significant finding is the large discrepancy between the working hours stipulated in contracts and the actual hours worked. Specifically, as noted in the study, a larger percentage of workers report that they actually work more than 35 hours per week, compared to those whose contracts stipulate such hours.
The researchers describe the phenomenon as a model of “standardized but flexible seasonal employment, ” where formal contracts exist but do not always serve as an effective guarantee of fair working conditions.
Housing
The issue of housing for seasonal workers on the Greek islands is a long-standing and recurring problem for the sector, one that resurfaces every year at the height of the tourist season. The sharp imbalance between the demand for tourist accommodations and the available housing, combined with the seasonal and often precarious nature of employment, places workers in a particularly vulnerable position.
According to the survey, 57.3% of respondents stated that their employer provided housing during the peak tourist season, while a particularly high percentage, 42.7%, received no form of housing support.
Although the provision of housing can mitigate the severe housing crisis on the islands, “the lack of such provision for more than two in five workers means that many seasonal employees are forced to compete directly with tourists in rental markets with exorbitant prices, often with wages that do not cover these costs,” the report states.
Employees’ responses show significant variations regarding the types of accommodation provided. The most common form of housing is shared bedrooms, accounting for 37.7% of cases, followed by private apartments or houses at 30.8%. Only 14.6% reported living in a shared house or apartment but with their own bedroom.
Smaller percentages involved staying in hotel rooms, hostels, or more informal arrangements, such as spaces originally intended for staff dormitories or overcrowded workers’ housing complexes.
According to the survey, basic living amenities are not universally guaranteed. Although electricity and adequate lighting appear to be the most commonly provided infrastructure, at 91%, access to clean drinking water is limited to just 50% of responses.
Similarly, kitchen and laundry facilities were reported in only 62% of cases. Based on the findings, workers describe a wide range of recurring problems with their living conditions. The most frequently reported issues were noise pollution (22.5%), poor hygiene and cleanliness (15.5%), and overcrowding in living spaces (15%).
Other problems mentioned included the presence of insects or pests, inadequate ventilation, unsuitable furniture, and dampness. It is telling that only 7% of participants stated that they did not encounter any problems or that they were fully satisfied with their living conditions.
In fact, 59.2% stated that they had been informed in advance about the living conditions, 31.5% reported receiving insufficient information, while 9.2% claimed they were misled regarding the accommodation that was ultimately offered to them.
According to the researchers, the housing crisis is now becoming one of the main reasons why the tourism sector is struggling to attract and retain staff, especially on the islands.
Management and Representation
The survey shows that “fair management” is the most positively rated aspect of working conditions in Greek tourism. Most employees state that they are treated with respect by their supervisors and that they can express their opinions without fear of reprisals.
Conversely, 39.7% express dissatisfaction regarding recognition, while many employees describe environments lacking meritocracy, with decisions based on personal relationships rather than objective criteria.
Finally, employee representation emerges as the weakest aspect of the tourism environment. Although many workers state that, in theory, they can voice concerns and complaints, in practice, however, the ability to make a meaningful impact remains extremely limited.
Participation in unions and collective bargaining is low, while approximately 33% of incidents of harassment or mistreatment are never reported, mainly due to fear of retaliation or a lack of trust in protection mechanisms.
Study Overview
The study was based on a sample of 451 employees in hotels, restaurants, and hospitality businesses in Greece and examines five key areas: wages, contracts, working conditions, management, and employee representation. It is part of an international research program studying working conditions in the tourism sector.