At a time when the job market is seeing historically high hiring rates and tourism businesses are recruiting staff en masse ahead of the peak of the summer season, the Ministry of Labor is preparing to launch the new digital platform “Fast Track Hiring” in the coming days.
This is a new fast-track recruitment tool that will allow for the fulfillment of urgent staffing needs for up to two days a week, even on holidays and weekends, via a mobile app.
The launch of the new app comes at a time when hiring is already at particularly high levels. According to data from the “Ergani” information system, 352,335 job postings were made in April alone, while the net balance of hires and departures was positive by 145,209 jobs, a figure that represents the highest ever recorded for the month of April since 2001.
In the first four months of 2026, total hires reached 993,189, resulting in a net gain of 200,113 new jobs—the best first-four-month performance in the last 25 years.
The new “Fast Hiring” app is one of the Ministry of Labor’s key initiatives aimed at further digitizing labor procedures and reducing bureaucracy. It pertains to fixed-term employment contracts for urgent and unforeseen business needs, and according to Labor Minister Niki Kerameos, it is expected to go live in the very near future.
Through the platform, employers will be able to electronically declare the basic terms of employment before the employee begins work. The employee will then immediately receive a notification on their cell phone via the myErgani app and will be asked to digitally accept the job offer.
Once acceptance is complete, the hiring process will be considered finalized, eliminating the need for the time-consuming procedures currently in place. At the same time, the notice of employment commencement, the digital declaration of work schedule, and the notice of contract termination are essentially replaced by the electronic notification and the employee’s digital acceptance.
The new system significantly reduces red tape, as it now requires the submission of only one form instead of the four previously required. The application is expected to be used primarily by businesses in the food service, hospitality, events, and entertainment sectors, where staffing needs often arise suddenly and require immediate fulfillment.
The ability to hire staff quickly—even for as little as two days a week—is considered particularly important for hotels, restaurants, catering services, and event venues, especially during the tourist season, when demand for staff skyrockets.
If an employee is hired without a prior digital offer and acceptance of the contract, penalties for undeclared work will apply.
There are also specific provisions regarding the employment of foreign nationals or minors, as the necessary supporting documents proving legal access to the labor market must be attached.
The implementation of “Fast-Track Hiring” follows the changes introduced by the labor bill passed in November 2023, following months of public debate. The goal of these measures was to increase flexibility in the labor market, digitize procedures, and better adapt to the needs of businesses and workers.
Data from “Ergani” clearly show that the tourism sector is currently driving the labor market. The sectors with the most hires in April were food service, with 96,274 new positions; lodging, with 90,046; and retail, with 21,982.
The picture is similar for the occupations in highest demand. Leading the way in hiring are waiters, waiter assistants, bartenders, and busboys, with 64,647 hires and a net gain of 34,989 positions.
Next are cooks and grill chefs, with 39,246 hires and a net surplus of 24,894 jobs, while particularly high demand is also recorded for housekeepers, hotel receptionists, dishwashers, and cleaners.
At the same time, there is significant demand for staff in administrative and sales positions, such as salespeople, cashiers, secretaries, and office workers.