Seafarers Announce 24-Hour Nationwide Strike on October 1

Greek seafarers are set to stage a nationwide 24-hour strike on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, following a unanimous decision by the leadership of the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO). The action coincides with broader mobilizations announced by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE).

During the strike, no vessels will operate across the country. The stoppage begins at 00:01 and ends at midnight the same day, affecting all categories of ships.

The protest is triggered by a new bill from the Ministry of Labor, which increases the daily working limit to 13 hours. According to PNO, this measure dismantles the long-standing principle of “eight hours work, eight hours leisure, eight hours rest,” undermining the personal lives, health, and safety of maritime workers.

The federation also pointed to earlier legislative precedents, recalling that in August 2013, despite adverse economic and social conditions, Greece ratified the regulation implementing the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006. That framework allowed shipowners to extend working hours up to 14 per day, with the exception of passenger and ferry vessels, where the ceiling was set at 10 hours.

The strike is expected to cause significant disruption in sea transport, highlighting once again the tension between labor rights and industry demands in the maritime sector.