Serious questions arise regarding the implementation of the Digital Employment Card in the country’s hotels, as it is revealed that an unknown number, possibly hundreds, of them are not required to apply the measure. The reason? Their main Activity Code Number (KAD) is not included in the mandatory ones for inclusion in the Digital Employment Card.
Specifically, many hotels, including large units in popular tourist destinations, have as their main KAD that concerns “Rental and management services of privately owned or leased real estate, not intended for residence”, and secondary KADs that concern hotel services. This type of principal KAD is not included in the sectors that are required to implement the Digital Labor Card, according to the interpretative circular of the Ministry of Labor, issued on February 10, 2025. The circular clarifies that businesses are exempt from the implementation of the Digital Labor Card when their main KAD in TAXIS does not belong to the sectors that have joined the measure, even if there are branches with KADs that have joined.
This means that many hotels, operating under the KADs of Rental or Exploitation Services, are not required to implement the Digital Labor Card, despite the fact that they provide hospitality services. This raises serious issues of equity and transparency in the tourism sector, as it creates two-tier businesses: those that are required to comply with the new measure and those that are exempt due to their main KAD.
Hoteliers are upset
Many hoteliers who are subject to the measure are already discovering that their neighboring competitive hotel has been exempted from the implementation of the Digital Labor Card and are wondering what is happening and on what basis this separation was made. The inability to determine the exact number of hotels that fall into this category, due to a lack of relevant data, intensifies uncertainty and concern in the industry.
A hotelier who spoke to TORNOS NEWS and wished to remain anonymous stressed that it is imperative that the Ministry of Labor review the framework for implementing the Digital Labor Card, ensuring that all tourism business entities will be subject to a single regime, in order to avoid unfair practices and enhance transparency in the labor market.
What the accountants say
Accountants with a large hotel clientele, contacted by TORNOS NEWS, point out that the current situation creates distortions in the market and unfair competition. Specifically, they report that some of their clients are subject to the measure, while others are not, a fact that they consider unfair. They even suggest that the measure should be universal and include all companies that, as evidenced by the E3 form, provide hospitality services.
What the Bodies Say
The president of the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers, Mr. Yiannis Hatzis, in a statement to TORNOS NEWS, emphasizes:
“The implementation of the digital work card is being attempted in a hurry. The transition to the digital age, on the one hand, cannot be done with an outdated and outdated set of laws that dates back to 1970, and on the other hand, it should be implemented gradually, so as to give the necessary time for the relevant changes to be assimilated by the parties involved.”
The President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCC), Mr. Alexandros Vassilikos, in a statement to TORNOS NEWS, underlines:
“HCC has expressed its reservations and concerns to the Ministry of Labor regarding the implementation of the Digital Card. The Federation and the Social Partner are responsible for the labor issues of hoteliers.”
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
