Overtime

The Ministry of labour submitted in parliament on Tuesday evening a draft bill on a series of measures designed to protect labour rights.

The Labor Ministry is expected to table a bill toward the end of the month that aims to tie up a number of loose ends related to labor and pension legislation.

The draft law will not be linked to any commitments Greece has as part of its bailout agreement with its international lenders ahead of the next program review, which is due to begin the autumn.

All archaeological sites and most museums in the Greek capital, including Athens's famed Acropolis, will remain shut Thursday morning due to a strike by site guards demanding the payment of overtime and the hiring of more staff.

The Federation of Greek Hospital Doctors' Unions (OENGE) has filed a legal notice to the Health Ministry over not being able to take the days off from work they are entitled to and the amount of overtime they are forced to put in.

In scathing remarks, the federation said doctors were denied leave on a variety of pretenses.

The Bulgarian government has approved amendments to the Labour Code which ensure better protection for Bulgarian workers sent on working trips in the EU, reported the press centre of the Council of Ministers.

Parliament adopted the amendments to the Ministry of Interior Act on Thursday.

Before Parliament's second reading, the Interior Ministry withdrew several of its key proposals.

As before, at retirement, employees will continue to receive compensation of up to 20 monthly wages. Paid annual leave continues to be 30 days and will not be reduced by 5 days as envisaged.

Police have used tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Paris who are protesting against the new labor reforms.

According to Le Figaro newspaper, a group of 30 young people broke the windows of banks and shops, while throwing rocks to police officers. Many people were arrested, according to Le Parisien.

Angry unions and youths joined forces on March 9 in a day of protests against French President Francois Hollande's effort to tamper with the country's 35-hour workweek.

Several union and student organizations called protests in more than 200 cities across France to try to kill the bill which has even divided Hollande's Socialists.

Businesses across Sweden are introducing shorter, six-hour workdays so workers can enjoy a better work-life balance.

According to the Science Alert website, the aim is to get more done in a shorter period of time as workers will be more focused and productive during the working hours and will have more time left to enjoy their private lives.

Athens University has sent data it believes show there was serious fraud at the institution over the last two years, with some administrative employees being paid thousands of euros in overtime on a regular basis.