ATHENS – More than 21,000 workers in Greece ignored a requirement to show a negative rapid test for COVID-19 before reporting to duty with no explanation why they were allowed to show up on the job after evading it.

The data came from the Labor Ministry’s Ergani system, said Kathimerini’s MoneyReview site, which reported that almost half, some 9,622, were based in the most populous Attica prefecture which includes the capital.

The report said that the Labor Inspectorate has been informed of the details of those who failed to complete the test and that the violators would be notified and could face fines up to 300 euros ($339.45) for each missed test although it wasn’t said how that would be paid or taken from their checks.

Employers who allowed workers to show up without the test could pay a big price for it, fined 2,000 euros ($2263) for failing to file the results of the rapid tests of their employees and a 10,000 euro ($11,351) fine for false declarations.