Government spokesman accuses opposition and media of creating a “tomb digger movement” and says Greece is “among the safest countries for workers”

Marinakis insisted that, according to the country’s Independent Labor Inspectorate and the methodology of the European agency responsible for monitoring workplace accidents, Greece ranks consistently among the EU countries with the fewest workplace incidents. He claimed that social-media commentators, “supposed influencers” and satirical programmes are misleading the public and distorting reality.

His remarks, however, directly contradict a recent statement issued by employees of the Labor Inspectorate. The workers’ association criticises the Ministry of Labor for attempting to downplay the scale of the problem and highlights widespread under-reporting of incidents, particularly in agriculture and shipping. They note that the officially recorded 201 deaths and 332 serious injuries in 2025 do not reflect the true number of accidents, pointing to chronic understaffing, insufficient preventive measures, and the erosion of labour protections. According to their announcement, even the Deputy Governor of the Labor Inspectorate, Charalambos Vourtsis, effectively confirmed the Ministry’s data at a recent event.

The association calls for substantial staffing increases, strict inspections, the reversal of anti-labour legislation and meaningful state responsibility for workplace safety. They express support for ongoing labour struggles aimed at protecting workers’ rights.

Despite these criticisms, Marinakis continued to argue that “political crooks” are exploiting human tragedy for political gain. He said that tragedies are being used to construct false narratives, maintaining that the Independent Authority’s figures demonstrate Greece’s high ranking in workplace safety compared with other European countries.

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