Digital work card expands to new sectors in Greece
Greece is expanding its Digital Work Card system to additional sectors from October 12, bringing the total number of workers covered by the electronic time-tracking measure to nearly 2.5 million.
The expansion will include around 500,000 additional private-sector employees in a bid to strengthen labour market transparency and ensure workers are paid for their actual working hours, according to the Labour and Social Insurance Ministry.
The first phase of the expansion covers human health services, including hospitals, therapy and diagnostic centres, excluding doctors, as well as work-support activities, telecommunications and selected service businesses.
These include hairdressers, beauty centres, dry cleaners and companies providing cleaning services in buildings and outdoor spaces. A pilot implementation that began on June 2 concluded on October 11.
Overtime declarations rise sharply
Labour and Social Insurance Minister Niki Kerameus told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) that the system protects workers by recording their actual working time.
Official data from the Ergani employment platform show that the Digital Work Card has contributed to substantial increases in declared overtime in certain sectors, reaching as much as 1,200%. In 2025, employers declared an additional 2.7 million overtime hours compared with 2024, according to the ministry.
Industry recorded 2,294,977 overtime hours, an increase of 15.1% compared with the corresponding period in 2025. Wholesale trade followed with 1,026,540 hours, up 213.5%, while the food sector recorded 999,770 hours, an increase of 53%.
Retail trade registered 565,528 overtime hours, up 19.2%, while tourism recorded 557,738 hours, an increase of 18.3%.
Overtime in administrative and support activities related to tourism reached 97,711 hours, representing a 157.1% increase over the same period in 2025.
Second expansion phase begins in November
A further expansion is scheduled for November 16, covering consulting services, advertising and other office activities, repairs, storage and logistics, water and sewage management, and gambling.
The pilot phase for these sectors began on June 29 and is due to conclude on November 15.
Ministry highlights benefits for workers and businesses
The Labour Ministry describes the Digital Work Card as a tool for improving transparency and fair competition in the labour market.
By recording working hours and overtime, the system is intended to help employees receive the wages they are entitled to while encouraging businesses to comply with labour legislation.
The ministry also says the measure supports social insurance revenues by improving the recording of employment activity and declared working hours, potentially providing greater fiscal flexibility to address social policy needs.
Source:AMNA
