Greek Government Disputes Labor Accident Data Amid Violanta Tragedy Aftermath

Fatal Explosion at Violanta Factory Ignites Safety Debate

A tragic explosion and subsequent fire at the Violanta S.A. biscuit factory near Trikala, Greece, on Monday, January 26, 2026, claimed the lives of five female workers. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, also resulted in injuries to seven other individuals, including a firefighter. Greek fire authorities have concluded that a prolonged propane gas leak, accumulating in a basement area from underground pipes and ignited by an electrical spark, was the primary cause of the blast.

The owner of the Violanta factory, along with the site's safety technician and the shift manager, have been arrested in connection with the industrial disaster. Prior to the explosion, Deputy Labor Minister Kostas Karagounis confirmed that two official complaints had been filed with the Labor Inspectorate: one in July 2024 concerning thermal stress and another in November 2024 regarding equipment safety and missing 'CE' certifications.

Government Challenges Rising Accident Figures

In the wake of the Violanta tragedy, the Greek government has strongly disputed data suggesting a significant increase in labor accidents. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis dismissed claims of Greece having the highest number of workplace accidents as a 'vulgar lie,' asserting that the country ranks as the third country with the fewest workplace accidents. Marinakis stated that official figures from the Labor Inspection Authority recorded 42 workplace fatalities in 2025, with five still under investigation, indicating a stable trend since 2021.

The government has also criticized opposition parties for what it describes as 'investing in pain and misery to gain political benefits' and belonging to a 'grave-robbers movement.' It specifically questioned the credibility of data provided by Andreas Stoimenidis, President of the Federation of Greek Technical Enterprise Employee Associations (OSYTEE), citing his political ties to the opposition 'Course of Freedom' party.

Unions and Opposition Highlight Discrepancies

Conversely, OSYTEE's preliminary 2025 annual report indicates a 'staggering escalation' in workplace fatalities. The federation reported significantly higher numbers of labor accident deaths compared to official state statistics:

• 2022: OSYTEE recorded 104 deaths vs. ELSTAT's 35
• 2023: OSYTEE recorded 179 deaths vs. ELSTAT's 51

OSYTEE attributes these discrepancies to structural limitations in official data collection, which often excludes contractors, the self-employed, and the uninsured, suggesting that under-reporting could be as high as 91%. The federation has pledged to resubmit safety proposals that were rejected by the Ministry of Labor in October.

Kostas Tsoukalas, spokesperson for the main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change, criticized Marinakis's swift declaration of no labor law violation, calling it 'deeply unscientific and inaccurate,' emphasizing that health and safety non-compliance falls under labor legislation.

Workplace Inspections and Staffing Levels

The government highlighted an increase in workplace inspections, from 54,000 in 2018 to 79,000 in 2024, and asserted that 91% of organic positions at the Labor Inspectorate are currently filled. However, Panagiota Rozou, President of the Association of Occupational Safety and Health Inspectors and Labor Inspection Employees, countered these claims by denouncing understaffing, stating there are 'only 233 inspectors for all of Greece.'