Greece labor market: Overtime hours rise amid unpaid wage concerns

Data from the Greek Ministry of Labor, alongside research from kariera.gr and GSEE, indicates a significant rise in reported overtime hours. Between January and July 2026, approximately 5.7 million overtime hours were recorded in sectors utilizing the new digital work card system, representing a 36.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

The wholesale trade sector saw the most dramatic surge, with overtime hours increasing by 212.8%. While the expansion of the digital work card system, which now covers 2.5 million employees, has increased transparency, labor violations remain high. Ministry inspections identified thousands of infractions, including issues with digital card usage, wage hour discrepancies, and unpaid wages.

Surveys suggest a gap between official records and worker experiences, with reports indicating that approximately four out of ten employees do not receive proper compensation for overtime work.