The next step for the Digital Employee Card

The implementation of the Digital Employee Card is now moving to the next stage, covering 18,000 employees of public companies, while more will be added soon. The use of this card, especially considering recent developments, introduces important safety controls that will have immediate results. Let’s take a closer look.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs proceeds with the incremental implementation of the Digital Employee Card. It is reminded that, since the summer of 2022, the Digital Employee Card is already being used in banks and supermarkets with over 250 employees. Moreover, on February 16, 2023, the Digital Employee Card was introduced in two more business sectors, i.e. insurance and private security companies. Till now, and according to official data, this measure applies to more than 150,000 employees in the above-mentioned sectors.

Now, the implementation of the Digital Employee Card is expanding further, and, by the end of April, it will also cover public companies operating in the utilities sector, such as in transportation, which translates into 18,000 more employees. More public companies are expected to follow, as per the existing planning.

According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the Digital Employee Card is an important reform that will benefit both employees, as a measure against under-declared and undeclared work, and employers, as an important tool that fights unfair competition and guarantees audit transparency. Finally, the Digital Employee Card will also strengthen the social security system, driving state revenue from social security contributions.

In practice, the Digital Employee Card introduces two important safety mechanisms that will facilitate auditing, making the whole process automated and objective. Firstly, the information system “ERGANI II” will be automatically updated with the actual start and end time of each employee’s shift, and secondly, auditors will know in advance, before visiting the workplace, which employees should be present and working at this particular day and time. Moreover, employees will be able to use their card log to prove their actual working hours.

Finally, it should be noted that the Digital Employee Card covers all types of employment and all work schedules (fixed, rolling, shifts and overtime), while it also records all types of leaves and/or vacation.