Greek Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said on Wednesday, that the digital work card launched in 2022 together with the Independent Labor Inspectorate had already started to produce results.
Speaking at a Labor Ministry event this week marking a year since the launch of the inspectorate, Hatzidakis, who served as labor minister from 2021 to 2023, said that the Greek digital work card had helped tackle undeclared work and support the work of the independent authority.
First implemented to combat labor and social security violations, the digital work card program requires all businesses to register their employees’ working hours and will be mandatory as of April 1, 2024 in retail and manufacturing.
The labor ministry announced last month that the program would soon be extended to more sectors, including tourism and hospitality.
“The creation of the new independent labor inspection authority, combined with the implementation of the digital work card, have created a strong framework for the protection of workers’ rights with a focus on combating undeclared labor,” he said.
Greece’s digital work card is aimed at streamlining bureaucratic procedures and ensuring transparency in the labor market. It also enables employers to verify employee credentials, fostering trust and efficiency in hiring practices.
Lastly, the labor ministry hopes with the integration of digital technologies into workforce management to achieve a more agile and modern labor ecosystem in Greece.
