Which sectors face priority inspections?
The Labor Inspection has identified several sectors with historically high violation rates. These include catering, craft parks, industrial zones, hair salons, petrol stations, car repair workshops, transport companies, retail trade, cleaning services, construction, hospitality, security services and contract manufacturing firms.
Targeted operations will continue until the end of the tourist season in October, focusing on areas that have shown persistently elevated infringement levels in previous years. The authority places particular emphasis on production sectors that have recorded increased rates of non-compliance over time. Operations remain focused on these branches because data from prior periods consistently point to higher infringement indices there than in other parts of the economy. The Independent Authority has made clear that checks will intensify further in these same branches, where the pattern of elevated non-compliance has not been eliminated and continues to challenge the proper functioning of the labor market.
The listed sectors are singled out because repeated inspection cycles have shown them to produce the highest share of breaches relative to their size. Emphasis on these branches stems directly from the pattern of findings accumulated during earlier control periods, which revealed that non-compliance is concentrated rather than evenly spread. By concentrating resources on the same production areas the authority aims to reduce the overall level of violations that still affect the labor market.
How has the volume of checks and penalties changed?
In 2025 the authority performed 82,233 inspections, the highest figure in four years. It imposed 19,093 sanctions, filed more than 2,500 criminal complaints and ordered 587 work stoppages. During the first half of 2026, 41,486 checks were completed compared with 38,093 in the same period of 2025. Violations rose to 8,690 from 8,000, and fines increased to 25.6 million euros from 21.9 million euros.
The data indicate that greater inspection activity reveals previously undetected breaches rather than an absolute rise in offending. The Independent Authority notes that the increase in detected cases follows directly from the expanded reach of controls. When more inspectors operate with better tools, a larger share of existing non-compliance becomes visible. This pattern confirms that a substantial portion of violations had remained hidden under earlier inspection volumes. The first-half figures for 2026 already show that the combination of higher check numbers and improved technology produces a clearer picture of the scale of the problem across the economy.
Comparison between the two half-year periods demonstrates that each additional check brings new cases to light. The rise in both the number of violations recorded and the total value of fines imposed is presented as the direct result of greater inspection capacity rather than any sudden worsening of behavior. Officials therefore interpret the higher numbers as proof that previous control levels left a measurable share of non-compliance outside the reach of enforcement.
Which violations now generate the largest fines?
Breaches related to the digital work card accounted for more than 7.2 million euros in penalties during the first half of 2026. Undeclared work attracted 6.7 million euros in fines. Together these two categories represented 55 percent of the total fine amount imposed in the period.
Other significant categories include non-payment of wages and allowances and refusal to provide information or access to inspectors. The shift in the ranking of fine categories shows that digital-card violations have overtaken undeclared employment as the leading source of penalties. This change reflects the priority given to verifying real-time recording of working hours through the digital system. The authority views these two categories as the core areas for intervention because they together account for the majority of the financial sanctions recorded so far.
The combined weight of these two categories in the overall fine total underscores their status as the primary targets of current enforcement policy. Because they account for more than half of all penalties levied in the six-month period, they receive the largest share of inspector attention and technological support. The remaining fine categories, while still significant, trail behind in both volume and value.
What technology is being used during inspections?
Inspectors now use tablets and enhanced digital applications to record violations in real time. This reduces errors and accelerates the imposition of sanctions. Drone systems acquired for operational support remain available for monitoring hard-to-reach workplaces and large construction sites.
The technology package allows immediate logging of findings at the inspection site. Real-time entry limits transcription mistakes that previously delayed sanction procedures. Drones extend coverage to locations where physical access is limited, supporting the overall plan without replacing on-site personnel. The authority states that these tools form part of a broader effort to limit violations related to the digital work card and undeclared employment while maintaining coverage of difficult sites.
Tablets enable inspectors to enter data on the spot and transmit results without intermediate paperwork. This direct entry shortens the time between observation and sanction. Drones provide visual coverage of sites that would otherwise require additional staff or present safety risks, thereby extending the reach of the same inspection teams.
Why do increased checks reveal more violations?
Officials state that stronger enforcement activity uncovers a larger share of previously hidden breaches. The rise in detected violations and fines is therefore viewed as evidence that a substantial portion of non-compliance had remained undetected until inspection capacity improved.
The message from the Independent Authority is that further intensification of controls is planned. The observed rise in sanctions demonstrates that non-compliance continues to present a major challenge to the proper functioning of the labor market. Expanded capacity simply brings more of the existing problem into view. The authority therefore intends to maintain the higher pace of checks, especially in the sectors already identified as having elevated infringement rates.
Because the additional detections are attributed to improved visibility rather than new offending, the authority concludes that the underlying level of non-compliance remains substantial. Continued expansion of checks is therefore required to bring the remaining hidden cases into the open and to maintain pressure on the sectors that have shown the most persistent problems.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of current Labor Inspection activity?
The authority prioritizes undeclared employment and compliance with the digital work card, especially in sectors that have shown high violation rates.
How many inspections took place in the first half of 2026?
Inspectors carried out 41,486 checks between January and June 2026.
Which fines are the highest?
Digital work card violations produced more than 7.2 million euros in penalties, exceeding fines for undeclared work.
Are drones used in inspections?
Yes, drones remain part of the operational plan for surveillance of difficult-to-access sites and large construction projects.
Until when will intensified checks continue?
Targeted operations are scheduled to run until the end of the tourist season in October 2026.
