Greek nursing labor disputes and rights concerns

Nursing professionals in Greece are raising concerns regarding labor rights and working conditions across different sectors.

In the educational sector, the Panhellenic Association of School Nurses (PA.SY.S.NO.) has demanded clarity from the Ministry of Education following a circular issued on October 14, 2026. The association expressed concern that a 30-hour weekly labor limit might be used to assign unrelated administrative duties or lead to arbitrary extensions of support hours. They are calling for transparent and uniform instructions to ensure equal treatment and to maintain readiness for medical emergencies.

Simultaneously, the Panhellenic Trade Union Federation of Nursing Personnel (PASONOP) has reported violations within the Greek National Health System (ESY). The federation alleges that hospital administrations are unilaterally altering working hours, violating Law 1157/1981. PASONOP further claimed that the Ministry of Health has excluded nursing representatives from parliamentary discussions regarding new healthcare legislation, accusing the Committee on Social Affairs of recognizing only specific professional associations to silence dissent.