Intensifies controls n Labor Inspection during the holiday season, with the aim of complying with labor legislation.

According to its relevant officials, just before the end of the year, it seems that the target of 67,700 checks in 2024 is exceeded, at the same time exceeding last year’s record of 73,579 checks.

Already, in the 11th month of 2024, the controls amounted to 72,018 and the sanctions reached 16,777, with the amount of fines amounting to 45,216,392.50 euros.

In particular, from the beginning of the year to November of the current year, the Labor Relations Inspectors carried out 39,098 checks, while imposing 11,845 sanctions and fines, amounting to 37,513,880.50 euros.

As can be seen from the available data, several violations were detected in companies with regard to personnel tables, which employers must post in a visible place in the workplace. The audits revealed 3,535 such violations and fines of 8,297,000 euros were imposed.

Also, 1,910 violations were recorded regarding the incorrect use of the Digital Work Card, i.e. indicated working hours and “unrecorded” overtime, with the amount of fines amounting to 5,238,790 euros.

Fines, totaling 13,702,500 euros, related to 1,201 violations for undeclared work, while, among other things, 941 violations were found for non-payment of accrued wages, with the amount of fines reaching 3,272,230 euros.

For the same period from January 1 to November 30, 2024, Health & Safety Inspectors carried out 25,626 inspections, resulting in 3,651 sanctions and fines totaling €4,235,979.

In this area, the Labor Inspectorate focuses on sectors of economic activity with increased risk, such as, for example, construction, technical projects, industry and businesses employing two-wheeled distributors.

At the same time, a priority for the Labor Inspectorate is the cultivation of an accident prevention mentality, before undertaking any work in all workplaces.

Also, the Special Inspectors carried out 7,294 inspections and imposed 1,281 sanctions and fines, amounting to 3,466,533 euros.

At the same time, the controls are continuous during the period of application of the holiday schedule.

It is noted that, in case of violation of labor rights, employees can make named or anonymous complaints to the single service line 1555 or to the online anonymous complaint submission service of the Labor Inspectorate or by sending a message via e-mail, to the Inspection Department of their place of work. Complaints can also be made by telephone or by attending the relevant department of the workplace, where all the required information is recorded.

Speaking to APE-MBE, the commander of the Independent Labor Inspection Authority, George Tzilivakis, states that what is requested is not only the quantitative increase of controls, “which has been achieved since we have been operating as an Independent Authority, but at the same time their qualitative upgrade. That is, the implementation of targeted actions where there is delinquency, by leveraging digital data analysis tools.”

“Our mission is to defend the rights of workers and to strengthen healthy competition between businesses that comply with labor laws. Technology works as a power multiplier and we never stop exploring ways in which we can take advantage of every possibility it offers us, combined with the great experience of our executives in the field of controls” says Mr. Tzilivakis.