GPS and worker monitoring in Hungria: what you need to stay compliant

What you need

For each obligation we tell you whether it applies in this country: Yes means required, It depends means only in certain cases, No means not required.

• Prior written information to workers on the monitoring and the technical means (Labour Code art. 11/A)

  Yesrequired

  The worker may be monitored only for conduct connected with the employment relationship; the employer may use technical means but must inform the worker beforehand and in writing.

  Codice del lavoro (Mt.), art. 11/A (controllo dei lavoratori)

• The monitoring concerns only conduct connected with the employment relationship, not private life (art. 11/A)

  Yesrequired

  The monitoring may not impair the dignity nor concern the private life of the worker; on company devices the employer may access only work-related data.

  Codice del lavoro (Mt.), art. 11/A (controllo dei lavoratori)

• Prior authorisation from an authority before installing

  Nonot required

  No prior authorisation from the NAIH is required; the employer assesses the legal basis and proportionality itself before introduction.

  NAIH, guida sui trattamenti sul luogo di lavoro (GPS)

• Basis = legitimate interest with a documented balancing test; GPS only during working hours, not off duty, with opt-out

  Yesrequired

  The basis is legitimate interest, not consent; the employer must first carry out the balancing test. For the NAIH the GPS locates the vehicle for work, it does not track the worker: only during working hours, no monitoring off duty, and the worker must be able to switch it off.

  NAIH, guida sui trattamenti sul luogo di lavoro (GPS)

• Impact assessment (DPIA) for monitoring the location and activity of workers (NAIH list)

  Yesrequired

  The NAIH list includes the monitoring of employees' work and the processing of location data that indicates systematic monitoring among the cases that require an impact assessment.

  NAIH, lista dei trattamenti che richiedono una valutazione d'impatto

The procedure, step by step

1. 1

   Carry out the legitimate interest balancing test before introduction.

2. 2

   Inform the workers in writing and in advance about the monitoring and the technical means (art. 11/A + art. 13 GDPR).

3. 3

   Carry out the impact assessment (DPIA) for monitoring the location of workers.

4. 4

   Limit the GPS to locating the vehicle for work: only during working hours, no monitoring off duty.

5. 5

   Provide an opt-out to switch off the GPS when the vehicle stays with the worker off duty.

6. 6

   If you switch systems: when you change your monitoring system or software, update and re-issue the privacy notice, and check whether the national agreement or authorisation for remote monitoring needs renewing. The provider (data processor), the data collected and the methods often change: the one provided earlier is not enough.

Who to contact

What you risk

Sources

• Codice del lavoro (Mt.), art. 11/A (controllo dei lavoratori)
• NAIH, guida sui trattamenti sul luogo di lavoro (GPS)
• NAIH, lista dei trattamenti che richiedono una valutazione d'impatto
• NAIH, sanzione Auchan (monitoraggio dei dipendenti)
• NAIH (Garante ungherese), pagina ufficiale
• Regolamento UE 2016/679 (GDPR)