Starting Saturday, March 1, 2025, the full implementation of the Digital Work Card will take effect in the tourism and catering sectors. The pilot application of the Digital Work Card in these sectors began 5.5 months ago in September 2024, giving businesses a reasonable time to adapt to the new requirements. Prior to the pilot phase, extensive dialogue took place between stakeholders as early as summer 2024, culminating in a conference organized by the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Niki Kerameos, in early September 2024. This included participation from major industry associations such as POEET, GSEVEE, and SETE.
During the 5.5-month pilot period, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security conducted numerous informational campaigns to assist workers, businesses, and representatives in the smooth implementation of the measure. Various online seminars and information sessions were held nationwide, involving key figures like Deputy General Secretary for Labor Relations, Nikos Milapidis, alongside worker and employer representatives.
Informative meetings were held with entities such as the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Macedonian Chamber of Hotels, and the Union of Freelance Accountants and Tax Consultants among others. These sessions gathered valuable feedback on sector-specific operations, some of which were incorporated into the updated circular issued by the Ministry on February 10, 2025.
The Digital Work Card is a crucial tool ensuring that employees are compensated for their actual working hours. It combats undeclared or hidden work practices and protects both workers and healthy businesses from unfair competition. Official data from the ‘ERGANI’ information system confirms its effectiveness, showing an increase of 815,509 recorded overtime hours in 2024 compared to previous years before implementation.
Currently, around 750,000 employees in sectors like banking, supermarkets, insurance companies, security firms, DECOs, manufacturing, and retail benefit from the card. Post-full implementation in tourism and catering, this number will rise to approximately 1.5 million, with over 200,000 businesses involved.