Greece is pushing forward with its landmark labor reform by expanding the Digital Work Card to additional sectors starting Thursday, as part of its pilot phase. The move brings the country one step closer to full implementation of a digital time-tracking system aimed at combating undeclared and underreported labor.
The new sectors joining the system include wholesale trade, energy, financial services, and administrative and support services in the tourism industry. Full enforcement for these sectors is set for November 3, 2025.
What Is the Digital Work Card?
The Digital Work Card is an electronic timekeeping system introduced by the Greek government to accurately record employee working hours in real-time. It is designed to ensure transparency in labor practices, protect workers from exploitation, and support businesses in maintaining fair competition.
The initiative is operated through the ERGANI platform, a central digital registry for employment data in Greece.
Impact and Expansion
With this latest expansion, the Digital Work Card will cover an additional 350,000 employees, bringing the total number of workers under its protection to 1.85 million across the country.
The system has already shown signs of success. According to data from ERGANI for April 2025, recorded overtime hours in sectors already using the Digital Work Card rose by 78% compared to April 2024 — indicating a significant increase in transparency.
The tourism sector, in particular, saw a dramatic spike of +1,105% in recorded overtime, suggesting that previously underreported work hours are now being properly logged. Other major sectors have also shown strong monthly increases:
- Retail: +131%
- Food service: +105%
- Manufacturing: +68%
These figures reflect not only better oversight but also suggest that undeclared labor is being brought into the formal economy.
A Tool Against Labor Violations
The Digital Work Card is seen as a crucial tool in the fight against labor violations in Greece. By automatically capturing check-in and check-out times, it reduces the space for employers to manipulate time records, underpay staff, or avoid declaring overtime.
It also protects law-abiding businesses by leveling the playing field and minimizing unfair competition from companies that exploit unregistered labor.
