2024-09-26 02:11:40
The Labor Inspectorate continues the targeted audits, which began in May, for compliance with the legislation on the legislated minimum wage, utilizing data from the ERGANI Information System, through the use of special reports for wage adjustment declarations, based on the applicable legislation.
In comparison, to date, 1,170 companies and the salaries of 8,518 employees have been audited. In 286 enterprises and 1,949 employees, it was found that wages had not been adjusted, based on the statutory minimums. After the intervention of the Labor Inspectorate, compliance was achieved, while fines totaling 49,200 euros were imposed in 43 cases. Checks are ongoing.
The Labor Inspectorate, addressed to every employee, emphasizes:
- It is illegal for your employer to pay you less than the statutory minimum wage, so check salary and talk to your supervisor or payroll manager to make sure you get the pay raise you’re entitled to. The minimum wage is a law, not an option!
- You can sue your employer if they underpay you. You can also contact the Labor Inspectorate for further details if needed by contacting your local Labor Inspectorate in your area. The Labor Inspectorate examines every complaint it receives. Inspectors will look at the pay of all staff in your workplace, not just yours. If you wish to remain anonymous, the Labor Inspectorate will not reveal who made the complaint.
- The Labor Inspectorate will find out if you are owed money and tell your employer to pay it directly to you. The Labor Inspectorate will not close the case until you are paid and if there is no compliance they will impose penalties.
- The law on the minimum wage is valid throughout the Greek territory for employees with a dependent labor relationship. No employer is exempt from the obligation to pay its employees the statutory minimum wage/wage.
Specifically, after the publication of Ministerial Decision no. 25058/29.03.2024 (Government Gazette 1974/Β/29.03.2024), the legal minimum wage/daily wage valid from April 1, 2024 for full-time employment, for employees and artisans respectively throughout the country, is as follows:
a) For employees, the minimum salary is set at eight hundred and thirty euros (€830.00) and
b) For artisans, the minimum daily wage is set at thirty-seven euros and seven minutes (€37.07).
Also, according to par. 3 of article 33 of Law 5053/2023 (A’ 158), for those employees who are paid the statutory salary or daily wage, the time of a dependent contract or employment relationship, which has been spent in any employer and in any specialty before 14.2.2012 and after 1.1.2024.
This seniority increase is determined as follows:
a) For employees with a dependent employment relationship, at a rate of 10% for each three years seniority and up to three (3) three years and a total of 30% for seniority of nine (9) years or more.
b) For artisans, with a dependent employment relationship at a rate of 5% for each three years of service and up to six (6) three years and a total of 30% for eighteen (18) years of service or more.
In addition, individual and collective labor contracts of any kind may not set regular monthly wages or full-time wages lower than (as defined above) the legal minimum wage and the legal minimum daily wage.
For more information on salary, proof of seniority, calculation and the exercise of your rights see here.