Unified Labor Agreement Proposal in Focus: Pastry and Restaurant Sector Reactions

A countdown is underway for the signing of the new two-year collective labor agreement with proposed wage increases. Reliable information from newsit.gr indicates that the Panhellenic Federation of Workers in Food and Tourism (POEEET) has submitted a proposal to the employers’ trade organizations in the restaurant sector (GSEVEE, Panhellenic Federation of Caterers & Related Professions, POESE) for wage increases of 12% for 2025-2026 under a sectoral agreement covering 2025-2027. Specifically, POEEET proposes a 7% increase starting in June 2025 and a further 5% in 2026. Additionally, the federation seeks a unified sectoral agreement for both restaurants and pastry shops to ensure large chains operating in both sectors comply. Currently, these large chains avoid adhering to either agreement as they do not exclusively belong to one sector and are not members of any sectoral employers’ association. Trade union circles report a generally positive stance from employer associations regarding the proposed wage increases. However, there are pressures concerning the 11-hour rest period and the definition of a responsible person per a specific number of employees, as this exempts them partially from the digital work card system already mandatory in the catering industry. By the end of the month, a meeting is expected between union leaders in the catering sector and representatives of the Ministry of Labor, with another planned early next month involving unionists and the Federation of Pastry Professionals of Greece. The planned signing of the sectoral agreement aims to align with the already signed hotel sector agreement to create a minimum network of wage and employment security for workers in the broader tourism sector, crucial to Greece’s economic growth. The question remains whether the Deputy Minister of Labor will proceed with additional measures such as increasing overtime rates, weekly work scheduling, and introducing order-based contracts.