The use of modern digital media is bearing fruit in the work of the Independent Labor Inspection Authority, significantly enhancing the speed and reliability of inspections.

With the main objectives of protecting employees, ensuring conditions of healthy competition between businesses, increasing controls and further upgrading their quality, the new digital model of conducting controls is already being implemented, through mobile devices (tablets), which are interconnected with the Integrated Information System (ISIS) of the Labor Inspectorate, but also with the “ERGANI II” Information System.

This has the effect of recording online and accurately the time at which the audit begins and is completed, while, at the same time, the immediacy of sending the results of the audits both to the company being audited and to the Labor Inspectorate database is achieved.

At the same time, the benefits of the new online system for checks, with digital tools (tablets), are maximized both by utilizing the possibilities of the Digital Work Card, which guarantees the rights of employees, and by applying the risk analysis method for targeted controls in sectors where more delinquency is detected.

According to the Independent Labor Inspection Authority, the use of risk analysis tools and the immediate processing of control elements greatly support the work of Inspectors and contribute to a better and faster control of the labor market, aiming to prevent and deal with delinquency in the market of work, as well as the consistent application of labor and occupational health and safety legislation.

G. Tzilivakis: In the current year, checks will approach 70,000

Speaking to APE-MPE, the commander of the Independent Labor Inspection Authority, Giorgos Tzilivakis, states that technological innovation, through the analysis of large volumes of data, the so-called big data and the use of digital tools, leads us to more, more targeted and quality controls . As he explains, the use of interconnected mobile devices, such as tablets, works as a power multiplier, offering speed, transparency and immediate registration of results.

With his statements to APE-MPE, Mr. Tzilivakis estimates that the controls, in the current year, as can be seen from the published data of the first semester, will approach 70,000. “This number is not only much higher than other years, but also higher than the annual target of 66,000 checks. However, in addition to the quantitative increase, we also consider their qualitative upgrade to be extremely important, so that targeted interventions can be carried out where there are phenomena of increased delinquency”, underlines the commander of the Independent Labor Inspection Authority.

After all, as he points out, the carrying out of controls in no case has and should not have only a punitive nature. According to Mr. Tzilivakis, the cultivation of a work culture by all of us is important. “All of us who can be employees and employers at the same time, even on a small scale. Where we must demand respect for our labor rights and, at the same time, respect the rights of those who directly or indirectly work for us. The combination of all of the above can bring a fairer balance to the labor market, which in turn will contribute to the creation of a higher level of democracy,” says Mr. Tzilivakis.

Audits in the first semester

Based on the latest data available, from January to June 2023, a total of 35,115 checks were carried out and 7,145 sanctions and fines were imposed, totaling 19,164,802 euros.

In particular, during this period, the Labor Relations Inspectorate carried out 18,874 inspections (5,130 sanctions imposed), while 13,546 inspections were carried out by the Health and Safety Inspectorate, which imposed 1,685 sanctions, and 2,695 inspections were carried out by the Special Inspectors, who imposed 330 sanctions.

Also, the Labor Inspectorate imposed fines of 110,000 euros in the context of controls, during the “Kleon” heatwave.

Specifically, the Independent Labor Inspection Authority carried out 641 inspections of the implementation of the emergency measures to deal with the thermal stress of workers, which were carried out in addition to those carried out on the basis of the annual business plan and in addition to the inspections carried out in activities related to tourism, during the summer season.

It is recalled that in 55 cases – out of the total of 641 controls – financial sanctions were imposed, totaling 110,000 euros and in 18 of them the work was suspended. 179 of the checks were done at distributors.