ATHENS – Greek workers forced to quarantine over COVID-19 will have to make up the time lost at work with an additional three hours daily once they return under a proposal by the New Democracy government heading for Parliament.

Employees who quarantine for seven or 14 days, as required by the National Public Health Organization (EODY) will be paid their salaries while at home or where they have isolated themselves, and their employers will pay their social security insurance.

But that isn't paid time off from work so the scheme means if they can't work from home remotely that once back in the office place will have to tack on the extra hours daily because the quarantine for the Coronavirus isn't sick time.

But they will not be paid extra for working overtime, the Labor Ministry saying the measure is part of a package of emergency measures for the labor market to help recover from a lockdown that kept many businesses closed 10 weeks.

The explanation was that those in quarantine, required to be there to prevent the spread of the virus, aren't themselves ill while another provision concerning leave for working parents who become ill will have the cost of the absence shared by the employer and the state, a medical certificate required.