kathimerini.gr
Greek Ministry Clarifies Overtime Recording Method Amidst Tourism Sector Discrepancies
The Greek Ministry of Labor addressed concerns from the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX) regarding reported overtime in the tourism sector, clarifying its recording methodology and providing detailed Q1 2025 data following the full implementation of the digital work card, which showed a 1,055% increase in May 2025 compared to May 2024.
- What is the Greek Ministry of Labor's response to concerns about the accuracy of overtime data reported by the digital work card system in the tourism sector?
- The Greek Ministry of Labor clarified its overtime recording method to the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX), stating that the ERGANI system doesn't track overtime since 2021. The ministry detailed the new recording process and provided tourism sector overtime data for Q1 2025, following the full implementation of the digital work card. This follows a reported 1,055% monthly increase in tourism overtime in May 2025 compared to May 2024.
- What are the potential underlying reasons for the discrepancy between the official overtime data and POX's interpretation, and what further steps are needed to address this?
- The significant percentage increase in reported overtime hours (1,055% in May 2025) warrants further investigation into potential causes beyond simple data inaccuracy. The discrepancy between the reported figures and POX's assessment (less than half an hour of overtime per employee in April) reveals a need for more granular analysis of working hours and the effectiveness of digital work card implementation. Future analysis should focus on sector-specific challenges in implementing digital work card systems.
- How do the reported overtime hours in the Greek tourism sector, according to the ERGANI system, compare to the assessment provided by the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX)?
- The clarification addresses POX concerns regarding the accuracy of overtime data from the digital work card. The ministry's response includes specific data for the first quarter of 2025, offering a comparison with 2024 figures to counter claims of inaccuracy. This highlights the ongoing challenges of implementing and interpreting data from new digital labor tracking systems.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the issue by highlighting the significant increase in overtime hours reported through the new system, potentially emphasizing negative consequences without fully contextualizing the data. While the POX's perspective is presented, the framing suggests a critical view of the digital work card's accuracy. The headline (if there was one, which is not provided) likely emphasized the percentage increase to create a sense of alarm.
Language Bias
The language used is relatively neutral. However, terms such as "significant increase" and "alarm" may carry a slightly negative connotation, implying that the increased overtime is problematic. More neutral alternatives could include "substantial increase" or "noticeable rise" to avoid inherent biases.
Bias by Omission
The analysis lacks information on the methodology used to collect the overtime data before the implementation of the digital work card. It also omits discussion of potential inaccuracies in self-reported overtime hours, either before or after the new system's implementation. Furthermore, the article doesn't explore potential reasons for the significant increase in reported overtime hours beyond the introduction of the new system. The article focuses heavily on the POX's response and interpretation of the data, without giving equal weight to counterarguments or alternative explanations.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a false dichotomy by focusing solely on the increase in reported overtime hours as a result of the digital work card, without acknowledging that the increase could be a consequence of other factors, such as increased tourist activity or seasonal demands. The POX's response also presents a simplified eitheor scenario, focusing on the total number of overtime hours and ignoring the possibility of significant variation in individual overtime.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a discrepancy in reported overtime hours in the tourism sector, potentially indicating underreporting or inaccurate recording of working hours. This impacts SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) because accurate data on working hours is crucial for ensuring fair wages, preventing worker exploitation, and promoting decent working conditions. The significant increase in reported overtime hours (1055% in May) might reflect either a sudden surge in overtime or flawed data collection methods, highlighting challenges in monitoring and enforcing labor regulations. The statement by POX questioning the significance of the reported overtime hours (less than half an hour per employee), further emphasizes the need for accurate data to ensure fair labor practices and prevent exploitation.