Greece lawmakers back plan to allow 13-hour work day

Athens: Greece s parliament on Thursday passed a contested reform that would allow 13 hour work days under exceptional circumstances. MPs spent two...

Athens: Greece's parliament on Thursday passed a contested reform that would allow 13-hour work days under exceptional circumstances.

MPs spent two days debating the bill, proposed by the conservative government, amid stiff criticism from unions and opposition parties.

Unions have staged two general strikes against the reform this month, the latest on Tuesday, with thousands of workers protesting against a measure "worthy of the Middle Ages", according to the left-wing Syriza party.

Syriza refused to take part in the vote and the spokesman for their parliamentary bloc, Christos Giannoulis, denounced the bill as a "legislative monstrosity".

The government insists that the 13-hour workday is optional, only affects the private sector, and can only be applied up to 37 days a year.