The Greek government has disputed the credibility of data released after the Violanta cookie factory tragedy in Trikala, which revealed a staggering escalation in labor accidents, reaching a peak in 2025.
The government is trying to prevent a narrative of systemic safety failure from taking root amid a chorus of opposition claims regarding non-existent oversight. Central to the government’s defense are official figures from the Labor Inspection Authority, which record 42 workplace fatalities in 2025 (with five still under investigation).
These figures show a stable trend since 2021, directly contradicting claims by unions and opposition parties of over 200 deaths. The government has specifically questioned the credibility of data provided by Andreas Stoimenidis, the President of the Federation of Greek Technical Enterprise Employee Associations (OSYTEE), noting his political ties to the opposition “Course of Freedom” party.
To bolster its position, the government highlighted a significant increase in workplace inspections—rising from 54,000 in 2018 to 79,000 in 2024—and dismissed claims of understaffing, noting that 91% of organic positions at the Labor Inspectorate are currently filled.
“Many in this country, within both the political system and the media, have made it their second nature to act as self-appointed prosecutors,” government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis stated, targeting both opposition parties and public commentators.
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