Greece’s Labour Inspectorate carried out more than 41,000 inspections in the first half of 2026, imposing fines totalling €25.6 million, with tourism and catering businesses coming under particular scrutiny.
The inspections focused chiefly on undeclared work, compliance with working hours, implementation of the Digital Work Card system, and the protection of employee health and safety.
During the summer months, particular emphasis has been placed on tourist areas and seasonal businesses, with enforcement teams drawing on data from the “ERGANI” information system, employee complaints, and risk-analysis tools.
Between January and June, a total of 41,486 inspections were carried out, resulting in 8,690 sanctions and fines amounting to €25,572,413. Of these, Labour Relations inspectors conducted 23,636 inspections, leading to 6,227 sanctions and fines of €21,324,160. Health and Safety inspectors carried out a further 14,434 inspections, imposing 2,067 sanctions and fines of €2,690,584, while specialist inspectors conducted 3,416 inspections, resulting in 396 sanctions and fines of €1,557,669.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the Deputy Commissioner of the Labour Inspectorate, Charalambos Vourtsis, said that inspections were carried out on a targeted basis, drawing on experience from previous years and available data. During the summer period, he said, priority was given to sectors linked to tourism services in areas of high tourist activity, with particular attention paid to compliance with working-time limits, tackling undeclared employment, and enforcing use of the Digital Work Card.
He explained that inspections were guided by risk analysis and information drawn from the ERGANI system, as well as from complaints submitted by employees or trade union bodies, with statutory administrative sanctions imposed wherever non-compliance was identified. Mr Vourtsis attributed the improved effectiveness of inspections to the operational performance of inspectors and the use of new technological tools, adding that the Inspectorate remained vigilant and was committed to strengthening compliance with labour legislation through transparency and efficiency.
According to the Authority’s 2025 annual report, inspection activity has risen steadily in recent years, from 65,286 inspections in 2022 to 74,031 in 2023, 79,290 in 2024 and 82,233 in 2025. Annual targets set for the 2023–2025 period were exceeded throughout, a trend that officials at the Authority said reflected its strengthened operational presence in workplaces.
