The pilot implementation of the four-day workweek, collective bargaining agreements, and the bill on equal pay for men and women were the topics of the interview given by Minister of Labor and Social Security Niki Kerameos on SKAI TV.
Commenting on a newspaper front-page story about a pilot program for a four-day workweek for OTE employees, the minister noted that this headline confirms what she had previously told PASOK on the matter—namely, that the legislative framework for its implementation already exists.
“We had told them this: that an organization with a Collective Bargaining Agreement can provide for a four-day workweek, and that is exactly what this particular company did, and it became a reality. So this is concrete proof that the institutional framework exists, and it is clearly up to companies and employees to make use of this framework. “So, based on the legislation we passed about six months ago, the four-day workweek is already being implemented in certain companies,” the minister said.
In response to announcements by Piraeus Bank and Alpha Bank regarding starting salaries of 1,700 and 1,600 euros, respectively, based on Collective Bargaining Agreements that were signed, Ms. Kerameos pointed out that this stems from the new momentum of the National Social Agreement signed by the government with the National Social Partners.
“We negotiated for nine months last year, covering the entire year of 2025. We reached an agreement in November 2025 on this new framework, which makes it easier to conclude a Collective Bargaining Agreement and extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement to more workers.” As the minister explained, immediately after its passage, Collective Bargaining Agreements began to be signed in the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as in the confectionery and bakery industries. “There is a new momentum, then, in collective bargaining agreements, and what we had said is now becoming a reality. That is, the state sets a minimum wage, and from there on up, everyone can negotiate something better. Some get a 20% increase; others get a much higher percentage. Here is concrete proof that the mechanism of the Agreement is working. I am very pleased to see this, because there is no better response to inflation, which is a huge challenge for so, so many of our fellow citizens.”
As the minister explained, the government is tackling inflation on two fronts: raising wages and lowering taxes.
Ms. Kerameos referred to the new workers’ housing development in Grevena, a project that had remained unfinished for 23 years and for which the first 40 deeds were issued last week. “The remaining 40 will be issued within the next few weeks, so the project will be completed. When I went to the Ministry of Labor two years ago and asked about the status of this project, it was at a standstill. It was stuck, as we say, in the gears of Greek bureaucracy. Together, we got it unstuck, found a solution, and completed construction; and last week we went to hand over the first 40 homes. I’ll never forget when one gentleman, upon receiving his deed, came up to me and said, “No more staying in other people’s homes.”
Regarding the bill on equal pay for men and women for work of equal value, which is being debated in Parliament, the minister pointed out that “your pay should depend on your work and your value, not on your gender. You might ask, ‘But is it possible that in the year 2026 we’re still debating whether your pay depends on your gender?’ Unfortunately, there are still some cases where this is true. In other words, you might have two employees—a man and a woman—in the same position, with the same responsibilities and the same qualifications, and the woman might be paid 13%, 14%, or 15% less than the man.”
Referring to yesterday’s hearing with stakeholders, Ms. Kerameos emphasized that “yesterday’s hearing with stakeholders was very moving, because the overwhelming majority of stakeholders from all sectors expressed very positive views both on the bill and on the fact that, even before the bill reached Parliament, we had incorporated more than 90 proposals. So it is the product of consultation. The bill becomes much better when you listen to the stakeholders.”