The mandatory use of a digital work card in Greece has led to a massive 855% surge in declared overtime in the tourism sector in the first half of the year, a reform that has exposed widespread unpaid labor and is now forcing some businesses to change how they operate.
The digital card, which electronically tracks employee working hours in real time, became a mandatory measure in May 2024.
The new transparency has had an outsized effect on hotels and catering businesses. Some have reportedly responded to the increased labor costs by shortening their opening hours, cutting services like hotel restaurants, or not opening at all for the current tourist season.
The trend of rising declared overtime has been seen across the entire economy, with an 81% increase in the first half of the year.
The catering sector saw a 115% rise, and retail a 111% increase.
Labor and Social Security Minister Niki Kerameus said the reform is working as intended. The digital card, she said, "is not just a technological tool; it is a shield for the employees and a means of expanding transparency in the labor market."