An information event on the implementation of the digital work card in industry, which will start from April 1, 2024, was co-organized by SEV under the auspices of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, with the participation of the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Domna-Maria Michailidou and General Secretary of Labor Relations, Annas Stratinaki.

The main conclusions of the event in Athens – according to the BSE – are summarized as follows:

  • A new approach to the organization of work presupposes the removal of brackets and distortions in the labor market and the least possible bureaucratic burden.
  • The complexity and variability of modern business and especially industry/manufacturing must be considered in any new regulation and application.

Especially in the application of the digital card in industry, the following must be taken into account:

  • the developments and European practices in the organization of working time at the beginning of the 21st century,
  • the particularities of each industry, each production line, and even each manufactured product.
  • There is an immediate need to address/resolve both operational issues and pending legislation as well as continued cooperation between the Ministry of Labor and the business community.

The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Domna Michailidou, said: “The Digital Work Card marks the entry of the world of work into the digital age. It is an important tool that protects workers from undeclared and undeclared work and employers from unfair competition. The message I want to send from today’s event is that for all of us, workers, employers and the state, the job market should work with rules that are the same for everyone. Only then does healthy competition make sense. Our aim is to extend the job card to all areas of professional activity and I want to assure you that this will be done methodically and taking into account the specificities of each sector. I look forward to everyone’s cooperation. After all, we have common goals: strengthening businesses to become more competitive and extroverted, creating new and well-paid jobs and increasing our national wealth.”

“Greek industry in recent years has created more than 117,000 new jobs, an increase of more than 30%, and which is the largest in the EU, while at the same time, average wages in industry are 32% higher than the rest of the economy ” pointed out the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SEB, Dimitris Papalexopoulos. He further emphasized that “the further upgrading of human resources in our country is possible and goes through the convergence with European practices, the reduction of the tax wedge, primarily for middle managers who are also the backbone of medium-sized businesses, and the avoidance of additional bureaucracy » addressing the Minister and the members of the SEV. He also emphasized that “in today’s environment of constant changes, the way we work, train, create the value and cognitive background that will allow us to adapt is changing.”

The Vice-President of SEV and Chairman of the Labor Affairs and Human Resources Committee of the Association, Spyros Theodoropoulos, emphasized that “SEV, as a position of principle, supports the implementation of any tool that combats undeclared and undeclared work, ensures the labor rights of employees, contributes to efficient operation of businesses and does not further burden businesses with unnecessary bureaucratic burdens”. But, as he noted, “the use of digital technology is not a guarantee in itself, but must be complemented by realism and functionality in order to be effective.” He pointed out that “our goal today must be to deal with the paradox: employees want to work more, companies want to pay better, but regulatory anchors prevent both sides”.

Events will follow in Larissa on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, with the Association of Thessalian Businesses and Industries and the Association of Industries of Thessaly & Main Greece and in Thessaloniki on Thursday, February 8, 2024, with the Association of Industries of Greece.