Over 96,000 labor law violations: General Labor Inspectorate reveals shocking data

17.07.2026 | Oversight and accountability

More than 96,000 labor law violations were identified by the General Labor Inspectorate in the first half of 2026. See what the main issues are regarding wages and safety.

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Shocking data from the Labor Inspectorate for 2026

In the first six months of 2026, the Executive Agency "General Labor Inspectorate" (GLI) conducted 24,772 inspections, during which over 96,000 violations of labor legislation were identified. The data show an alarming trend in the safety and employment contract sectors.

"Following the intervention of the Labor Inspectorate, over 2.2 million euros in delayed wages have been paid out of a total of 3.4 million euros in established overdue amounts," the institution reported.

Workplace risks and sanctions

Inspectors removed 76 workers due to a lack of competency or non-compliance with rules. The number of sanctioned individuals is growing compared to the previous year, when there were 56. Administrative measures include the drafting of 5,136 acts, and the total amount of effective penalty decrees exceeds 3.5 million euros.

Citizen reports and labor accidents

Most reports from citizens concern issues related to pay, working hours, and the termination of employment relationships. During this period, 449 labor accidents were investigated, including a tragic case involving the death of a 62-year-old worker at a quarry near Burgas.