The working days of the week are six according to the law, where the five-day week has not already been applied. The 7th day, usually Sunday, is a compulsory weekly rest day. Weekly rest is the employee’s right and the employer’s obligation.

The proposed festive opening hours of retail shops, for the Christmas period 2018, are as follows:

  • Thursday 13-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Friday 14-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Saturday 15-12-2018 09.00 – 18.00
  • Sunday 16-12-2018 11.00 – 18.00
  • Monday 17-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Tuesday 18-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Wednesday 19-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Thursday 20-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Friday 21-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Saturday 22-12-2018 09.00 – 18.00
  • Sunday 23-12-2018 11.00 – 18.00
  • Monday (Christmas Eve) 24-12-2018 09.00 – 18.00
  • Tuesday (Christmas Day) 25-12-2018 HOLIDAY
  • Wednesday 26-12-2018 HOLIDAY
  • Thursday 27-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Friday 28-12-2018 09.00 – 21.00
  • Saturday 29-12-2018 09.00 – 18.00
  • Sunday 30-12-2018 11.00 – 18.00
  • Monday (New Year’s Eve) 31-12-2018 09.00 – 17.00

On Wednesday 2 January 2019 it is proposed, as traditionally and customarily happens, that retail shops remain closed. From Thursday 03 January 2019 the hours followed by shops within the area covered by the local Commercial Associations of the Athens basin will resume.

The remuneration of “Sunday” employees

The employment of workers in retail shops that will operate as above is permitted and remunerated in accordance with the general provisions of labour law, which provide for additional pay for work on Sundays.

Specifically, as regards remuneration, the following apply as set out in article 2 of Law 435/1976 and in Ministerial Decisions No. 8900/46 and 25825/51:

Salaried employees working on Sundays and the holidays mentioned below are entitled to …………… the prescribed increase of 75% under the provisions of those decisions, as they apply today.»

At the same time, as regards the rest day of workers who will work on the above Sundays, the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 10 of Royal Decree 748/1966 apply:

“Salaried employees …………… working on Sunday …………. are entitled to ……………… a replacement weekly rest lasting 24 consecutive hours on another working day of the week beginning on Sunday, starting from the time work ends.”

Accordingly, workers who will be employed by our businesses on those Sundays will receive an increase of 75% on their lawful daily pay and, at the same time, are entitled to a replacement day of rest during the week following the Sunday on which they worked and not the week after that or at another time. The day of rest is determined by the employer (para. 2 article 10 Royal Decree 748/1966).