Working time

A million private sector workers get paid five months late, whereas a million private sector workers (45%) get wages beneath 751 euros per month. Ta Nea newspaper's study shows that in 2012 only 17% of the workforce received wages under this amount. 1,400 work contracts signed in 2012 were reduced from 10-40%.

How much do they work?

OECD Chart: Hours worked, Total, Hours/worker, Annual, 2013 - 2013

The Montenegrin government on Tuesday snubbed calls to delay implementation of controversial new regulations limiting work permits for foreigners.

The Ministry of Interior said employers had been given enough time to get familiar with the changes to employment law, months before they took force on April 1.

Nearly 1 million people in Bulgaria at 3516 enterprises worked 14.5 million hours of overtime in 2014, according to statistics of the General Labor Inspectorate Executive Agency.

The largest amount of overtime exceeding the statutory 40 hours per week or eight hours per day norm was reported by medical workers.

It's true: working too hard can drive you to drink, said researchers Jan. 14 who warned of the health risks of such dual excess.

An overview of studies covering more than 400,000 people showed that individuals who exceed 48 working hours per week - the European Union's suggested maximum - are likelier to consume "risky" quantities of alcohol, they said.

Greek hospitals face another difficult year as the state budget for duty shifts has been sliced by 7 percent to 225 million euros, the fifth annual cutback in a row.

By Dimitra Manifava

Retail stores are set to open on the last Sunday of the year, December 28, as the multi-bill that the Development Ministry is about to table in Parliament in the coming days will provide for a law amendment to that effect.

Romania's presidential elections on November 2 will be marked by a high degree of absenteeism, as only 52.8 per cent of people say they intend to vote, according to a survey.

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The Federation of Private Employees (OIYE, which represents retail workers) has called a 24-hour strike for Sunday, November 2, in protest at a controversial law allowing stores to open seven Sundays a year.

Doctors at public hospitals will be hired at the same rate as departures and medical staff will not have to work longer hours than the law stipulates, according to legislation being drawn up by the Health Ministry.