The development comes after oversight was enhanced in the wake of a steep rise in violations of workers' rights after the end of the financial crisis.

The number of criminal acts of violation of basic workers' rights increased after 2008, especially in 2014, when the police processed almost 5,760 cases, as opposed to only 104 in 2008 and almost 1,520 in 2018, the General Police Department has told the STA.

But it added that in interpreting these figures, better oversight as well as changes to labour laws should be taken into account.

The most frequent violation of workers' rights is employers not paying mandatory social security contributions for their employees, such as pension and health insurance.

Police data also shows these crimes are most widespread in construction, hospitality transport and retail, but also in other services sectors.

Under Article 196 of the penal code, the severest punishment for violators, if found guilty, is three to five years in prison plus a fine.

Workers who believe their rights are violated can turn to various institutions, including labour inspectors, the police and prosecution.

They are advised to turn to the police or the prosecution to file a criminal complaint especially if they have won a lawsuit in a labour court but are unable to recover their money because their employer has been liquidated or has had blocked accounts.

Data from the prosecution shows a similar trend in that the number of complaints received between 2009 and 2016 surged, then stabilised, and plummeted in 2017 and 2018.

"It is difficult to explain the reasons, but a more pro-active and efficient approach by various institutions, such as the prosecution, police, labour inspectors and the Financial Administration has no doubt played its part," prosecutor Diana Šeruga Sagadin, head of the task force for employment related crime, has told the STA.

When the prosecution identified a rise in these crimes it made them a priority, and in 2012 set up the task force of persecutors to spread the know-how and better coordinate cooperation with various stakeholders, the supreme state prosecutor has explained.