Labor Agreement Mandatory for All Hotel Enterprises in Greece

The Greek Labor Ministry announced this week that it would be extending the current labor agreement to all hotel businesses. The collective labor agreement was up until now applicable only to hotels that had signed the contract.

The labor deal which will apply for the 2023-2024 period sets out salaries, subsidies, and working hours, among other things, and is mandatory for all companies offering hospitality services and not only those that have signed the contract.

The decision was made by Labor Minister Kostis Hatzidakis on the recommendation of the Supreme Labor Council. Among others, the agreement foresees a 5.5 percent increase in the basic monthly wage effective from January 1, 2023 and an additional 5 percent rise as of January 1, 2024.

The Panhellenic Federation of Food and Tourism Workers (POEET) and the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX) signed the labor agreement.

Labor Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.

“The extension of the Collective Labor Agreement to all hotel companies, sends three messages: first, that the incomes of employees in all hotel companies are supported, secondly, specifying working hours can serve the interests of both employer and employee if both parties agree; and thirdly, the government encourages collective labor agreements that are a result of good faith and productive negotiation,” said Hatzidakis.

The agreement which also provides for arrangement of rest days and overtime pay and conditions, concerns employees with basic salaries increasing to 911.34 euros (from 1.1.2023) and to 956.91 euros (from 1.1.2024). Basic wages are supplemented with subsidies for seniority, marriage, tourism training, seasonal employment, etc.