Greece’s Labor Minister Niki Kerameus has sent a clear message of support for workers at Pizza Fan and the “To Choriatiko” bakery chain, following the tax evasion scandals that have come to light involving both businesses. Speaking on MEGA TV’s Live News program, the minister assured workers that the government and the Ministry of Labor stand firmly by their side, clarifying that employer obligations remain in full force as long as employment contracts are active. She placed particular emphasis on the payment of earned wages and social security contributions, noting that her ministry is in continuous contact with workers’ representatives.
Kerameus: “The Ministry of Labor and the government will stand by the workers”
Niki Kerameus stressed that the government’s top priority is to safeguard the labor rights of all employees at both businesses, regardless of how the ongoing investigations unfold. “I want to send a clear message that the Ministry of Labor and the government will stand by the workers, will support them with everything we have, and we are of course in very close contact with workers’ representatives throughout this entire process,” she said. The minister explained that the relevant authorities are closely monitoring developments and maintaining open communication with staff representatives, in order to address any issues that may arise regarding wages and social security coverage.
What the Pizza Fan employment contracts mean for workers
Referring specifically to Pizza Fan, the Labor Minister clarified that, based on the information available to her, no administrative order had been issued to shut down the business, nor had the company itself announced a suspension of operations. “There appears to be no administrative or other order leading to the closure of the business (Pizza Fan). No authority — not the Financial Police, not the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) — has issued a closure order. Nor has the business closed on its own initiative. What does this mean in practice? It means that all employment contracts remain active,” she stated. Under these circumstances, workers continue to retain all the rights arising from their contracts, while the employer remains legally obligated to fulfill all corresponding duties.
Wage and social security payments are mandatory
Kerameus was unequivocal on the obligation to pay wages and social security contributions. “The business has an obligation under labor law to pay — that is, to remit the workers’ earnings and their social security contributions. It must comply with all of these obligations,” she noted. She also emphasized that the ministry is closely monitoring every development in cooperation with workers’ representatives, acknowledging the serious human dimension of the case.
The minister also touched on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in the labor market, stressing that boundaries and safeguards are needed to protect workers. “Certain limits and safety mechanisms must be put in place,” she said, underscoring that protecting workers’ rights remains a central objective for her ministry.
