Greek trains, ferries and taxis were halted and protests were expected in the capital Athens on Wednesday during a one-day general strike against extended working hours.
The action was organised by Greece's largest private and public trade unions to protest a government plan to extend a 13-hour working day cap now in effect for workers with two jobs to workers with one job. The rule is expected to pass in October, a labour ministry official said.
Unions say it will increase pressure on workers in Greece, which is emerging from the 2009-2018 debt crisis that slashed wages and pensions and caused unemployment to skyrocket. While Greece's economy is recovering and living standards have improved after a series of pay increases, Greeks still trail their European peers in purchasing power on rising housing and food costs.
"We say no to a 13-hour workday. Working time is not a commodity. It's our life," the GSEE union, which represents about 2.5 million workers in the private sector, said in a statement ahead of the strike.
Workers are expected to gather in central Athens in the morning.
The government says the reform would apply only for up to 37 days a year, offer workers the chance to get 40 per cent overtime payments and that it comes following employers and workers' demands for a more flexible labour market.
Israeli military stops nearly all boats in aid flotilla, sparking global protests
UK names Mullally as first female Archbishop to lead Church of England
Bualoi death toll rises to 51 in Vietnam, banks told to support affected firms
Philippines ends quake rescue efforts, focuses on helping 20,000 displaced
Death toll rises to 9 as rescuers search for trapped Indonesian students
