Targeted and intensive controls for compliance with legality continues to be carried out by the Independent Labor Inspection Authority in view of the summer period while already Work card has tangible results in the declared overtime.
The digital work card measure, already implemented in banks, supermarkets, insurance companies, security companies, DEKO, industry and retail, from March 1, 2025, has been fully implemented in the tourism and catering sectors, expanding the net of protection to more.
According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Digital Work Card is a powerful tool for combating the indicated or undeclared work, observing the hours and fully recording the actual working hours, which also results in full earnings for each employee.
The effectiveness of the measure is already reflected in the available data. According to the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Niki Kerameos, in a post, the overtime declared in March increased by 637% in tourism and by 55% in focus, already in the first month of implementation of the measure and even before the tourist season begins. Similar positive data is recorded in other sectors, with an increase of 97% on retailing overtime and 81% in the industry in March compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.
The course of checks
At the same time, the Labor Inspectorate, utilizing digital tools, data analysis and accumulated experience, intensifies controls overall and focuses on high -intensity sectors and with increased seasonal activity, with the aim of protecting workers’ rights and ensuring healthy competition in the labor market.
Labor Inspectorate also places particular emphasis on the prevention of accidents at work and in this context constantly carries out checks to comply with health and safety rules in the workplace.
Based on the data for the first four months of 2025, the checks total 24,158 and the sanctions reach 5,385.
In particular, from the beginning of 2025 to April, the labor relations inspectors carried out 13,604 checks and imposed 3,881 sanctions. A total of 1,289 sanctions were imposed by Health and Safety Inspectors, which carried out 8,619 checks, while Special Inspectors carried out 1,935 checks and imposed 215 sanctions.
The next steps
In addition to the quantitative increase, the demand for the labor inspection is the continuing quality upgrading of controls, that is, the appropriate targeting where there is higher offenses.
According to Labor Inspection Commander, George Tzilivakis, “the Labor Inspectorate has managed for two years in succession to record historical records of controls, which, to a large extent, are implemented using tablets, which substitute for handwritten bulletins.
At the same time, the Labor Inspectorate has expanded its activities to new fields, such as controls to combat labor trafficking and working on labor disputes to combat violence and harassment at work. “
Referring to the subsequent steps of upgrading the operation in a recent position at the start of training of newly trained inspectors, Mr. Tzilivakis emphasized that these are only the beginning.
As he said, the design, development and installation process processes are being launched while utilizing digital business and artificial intelligence.
“We are also using drones to strengthen safety and health controls and look forward to supplying Body camera inspectors to increase safety and transparency in their work,” Mr Tzilivakis added.
As he commented, “these are actions that will gradually change the operating model of the labor inspection, so controls are implemented using advanced technology systems, being targeted and even more effective. All this for the benefit of the employee and the employer, who operates as a lawful and is affected by the unfair competition of those who are illegitimate. “
Source: RES-EIA