The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) is organizing a nationwide strike and May Day demonstrations under the slogan “Labour Day is not a holiday, it’s a strike.” The GSEE rally, in collaboration with the Athens Labor Center, will occur at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 1st, in Klavdiou Square.
As a result, all supermarkets will remain closed.
Details for Employees
May 1st is classified as a non-essential holiday. However, in accordance with the Minister of Labor’s decision, it is recognized as a mandatory holiday each year, following Article 1 of Law 380/68. This year, May 1st, 2025, which falls on a Thursday, has been officially declared a mandatory holiday (Government Gazette B 928, 14/4/2025).
Specifically:
- Employment and business operations are prohibited, except for establishments that legally operate on Sundays and holidays, including health services, tourism, transportation, and factories with continuous operations.
- Hourly employees who do not work on May 1st will receive their regular hourly wage without any additions.
- Hourly employees who work on May 1st will earn their standard hourly wage plus a 75% surcharge, calculated on their regular wage for the hours worked.
- Monthly salaried employees in workplaces that operate on Sundays and holidays will receive a 75% surcharge (based on their normal hourly wage) for any hours worked. If their workplace operates on May 1st, they will also receive their normal pay for those hours worked, in addition to the 75% surcharge.
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