Digital Work Card data shows six-digit rise in actual overtime registration

According to the card data, there were over 815,509 additional overtime hours registered in 2024 compared to years before the card was first introduced on July 1, 2022. The system was first introduced in banks and supermarkets employing over 250, and will gradually include all businesses regardless of size and sector.

Specifically, a sharp rise was registered in the following sectors:

- at super markets by 60% (216,731 hours in 2024 against 135,466 in 2021),

- at banks by 38.3% (82,236 hours in 2024 against 59,470 in 2021),

- at security services by 27.8% (454,547 hours in 2024 against 355,584 hours in 2022),

- in industry by 34.3% (2,019,082 hours in 2024 against 1,503,813 in 2023), and 

- in retail by 28.1% (474,999 hours in 2024 against 370,883 in 2023).

Labor and Social Insurance Minister Niki Kerameus underlined the system's importance in managing underreported and unreported labor. As she said, "Guaranteeing workers' rights is our main concern, and the Digital Work Card is proving to be an effective and therefore valuable tool for this purpose. Its implementation registers real work time and employees are compensated for that, while at the same time it contributes to fighting unreported and underreported labor. We are protecting employees and businesses as well, bolstering healthy competition."

A related statement said that the Digital Work Card is being implemented on a trial basis in the tourism and food sectors, while its full implementation in these sectors will begin on March 1, 2025.

After full implementation in these two sectors, the number of employees protected by the Digital Work Card will total approximately 1,500,000.

 AΜΝΑ