With two new pilot phases, the expansion of the Digital Work Card continues, significantly broadening coverage to include workers in additional sectors of the economy.
The new expansion covers a total of 476,000 workers and is part of the gradual, universal implementation of the measure, aimed at protecting workers, combat undeclared and underreported work, and ensure compliance with working hours. The total number of employees covered by the digital work card measure, following the latest extensions, is estimated to reach approximately 2,500,000.
The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Niki Kerameos, stated: “The Digital Work Card is an important tool for protecting workers and enhancing transparency in the labor market, ensuring the accurate recording of actual working hours and the full payment of statutory wages.
With this new expansion, more than 476,000 workers will gradually be included in the program, increasing total coverage to approximately 2.5 million workers nationwide. “Our goal is to effectively protect workers, tackle undeclared and underreported work, and safeguard healthy competition among businesses.”
Phase 1 of the expansion
The first phase of the new expansion will be implemented on a pilot basis from June 2 to October 11, 2026. The following sectors are included in this phase:
- Human health activities (hospitals, therapeutic and diagnostic centers), excluding physicians
- Employment support activities
- Telecommunications
- Specific service sectors, such as hair salons, beauty salons, and dry cleaners
- Building and outdoor services, primarily cleaning services
Phase II of the expansion
The second phase of expansion will be implemented on a pilot basis from June 29 to November 15, 2026. This phase includes:
- Consulting services, advertising, and other office activities
- Repair sector
- Storage and transport-related support activities (logistics)
- Water and wastewater management
- Gambling
As with previous expansions of the Digital Work Card, during the pilot period, extensive consultation will take place with the relevant sectors, with the aim of optimizing the implementation of the measure and taking into account the specific needs and characteristics of each professional activity.
It is worth noting that the Digital Work Card has led to increases in reported overtime of up to +1200% in certain sectors, while in 2025, 2.7 million more hours of overtime were reported compared to 2024.
* See the Government Gazette in the Related Materials column.