Every year, the peak tourist season brings heavier workloads for thousands of employees. However, every extra hour worked must be recorded, declared and paid in line with the law.
The introduction of the digital work card has led to an increase of up to 1,000% in declared overtime during the busiest months of the tourist season.
Under the law, in a five-day workweek, hours worked from the 41st to the 45th hour each week are classified as additional work and are paid with a 20% premium. Any hours worked beyond 45 hours a week, provided they have been properly declared, are paid with a 40% premium.
To receive this pay, however, employees must clock in and out using the digital work card at their actual arrival and departure times.
Employees must use the digital work card to clock in and out at their actual arrival and departure times.
According to the Greek Federation of Employees in Catering and Tourism (POEET), complaints submitted to the Labour Inspectorate and to the federation itself have increased significantly during this year’s tourist season.
The most common complaints concern the failure to apply sectoral collective labour agreements, violations of labour law, the improper use of the digital work card, and the non-payment of legally required pay premiums for overtime, night work, Sundays and public holidays.
Source: Kathimerini
