Labor Inspection 'Safari' for Unpaid Dues: 549 Lawsuits Filed Against Employers in One Year

Greece's Independent Authority for Labor Inspection successfully resolved more than half of the labor disputes it examined in 2025 through mediation. The process led to the settlement of 6,372 cases, resulting in employers paying 7.98 million euros to employees.

This performance represents a five-year high, both in the number of resolved disputes and the total sums disbursed by employers. The total number of labor disputes examined in 2025 reached 11,354, an increase from previous years. Of these, 56.12% were resolved through the intervention of the Labor Relations Services, while 18.74% were canceled due to non-appearance of parties, and 25.14% were referred to courts.

The high rate of cancellations is often attributed to parties reaching agreements and withdrawing their claims before scheduled discussions, highlighting the effectiveness of the out-of-court dispute resolution mechanism. In parallel, the Labor Relations Services initiated 549 lawsuits or criminal complaints against employers for violations of labor legislation discovered during dispute resolution processes.

Sectors with the highest number of labor disputes in 2025 included food services (2,215 cases), retail trade (1,894 cases), and accommodation services (854 cases). The data underscores the authority's significant role in ensuring fair labor practices and recovering owed wages for employees across various industries.