Eight months after the National Social Agreement became law, collective bargaining continues to deliver results.
According to the latest available data, a total of 161 collective labour agreements have been signed since 16 February 2026. The process began in November 2025, when the government and all national social partners signed a Social Agreement for the first time to strengthen collective labour agreements, following seven months of talks.
In February 2026, the Agreement became law, paving the way for more collective bargaining, easier extension of agreements and the restoration of the full continuation of collective labour agreements after they expire.
The results began to emerge immediately: since 16 February 2026, 10 sectoral agreements, six occupational agreements, 144 company-level agreements and the National General Collective Labour Agreement have been signed.
The two most recent agreements, covering the petroleum products and cement industries, are notable examples.
In the petroleum products sector, the new collective labour agreement provides for an immediate 4% pay rise in 2026 and a total increase of 11% by 2028, as well as additional benefits, including an education allowance and an annual nursery allowance of €1,000 for each child. If the agreement is extended, its provisions will cover more than 5,000 workers.
In the cement industry, four pay rises are provided for in 2025 and 2026, amounting to more than 5.5% a year, along with a seniority increase of up to 55%, a €600 benefit for the third and each subsequent child, and a student allowance of up to €400 for the first time.
The extension of collective labour agreements in the catering and confectionery sectors is also significant. In catering, more than 400,000 workers are covered by an agreement providing for basic salaries of €930 to €1,100 — up to 19.6% higher than the statutory minimum wage — as well as additional allowances.
In the confectionery sector, extending the agreement has widened coverage from 6,000 to 23,000 workers, with pay rises and additional benefits provided for.
Strengthening collective bargaining is the main objective of the National Social Agreement, reached between the government — specifically the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Niki Kerameus — and the national social partners.
The initiative has also received recognition at European level, with European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu describing Greece as “a source of inspiration for social dialogue across Europe”. The minister, for her part, has said that the Agreement paves the way for pay rises, more benefits and better working conditions.
With the first 161 collective labour agreements already signed, the challenge now is to sustain this momentum and extend more agreements, so that even more workers can benefit from higher pay and better terms of employment.
SOURCE: ANA