A dramatic rise in workplace accidents and fatalities has been recorded in Greece in recent years—a trend that continued unabated through the first nine months of 2025. According to data from the Federation of Technical Enterprise Workers of Greece, 172 workers lost their lives on the job during this period, while another 272 suffered serious injuries.
The Federation warns that Greece has become a “negative example” within the European Union, as the phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down. Data presented at a recent federation conference revealed that in the first seven months of 2025 alone, 139 workers were killed while performing their duties—roughly one death every two days.
At the same time, EUROSTAT estimates that around 40 workplace accidents occur daily in Greece, a figure likely understated due to incomplete reporting.
In 2024, more than 150 workers died in similar incidents, marking yet another grim milestone. The Federation links this surge to the steady deterioration of labor conditions over the past 15 years, noting that the trend extends across major industries and companies. It also warns that occupational diseases related to poor workplace environments are widely underreported.
The problem has reached epidemic proportions, with over 14,000 workplace accidents occurring annually, according to the Independent Labor Inspectorate. Many incidents are attributed to poor working conditions and exhausting schedules that compromise safety standards.
A particularly troubling aspect is the lack of official data on occupational illnesses and deaths caused by work-related diseases, leaving a major gap in the national safety record.
Despite repeated alarms, the number of accidents continues to climb: 14,920 were reported in 2023, up from 14,388 in 2022 and 11,957 in 2021. The financial toll—beyond the profound social cost—exceeds 150 million euros each year.
The sectors most affected include retail trade (22.8%), accommodation (9.3%), public administration and defense (9.3%), healthcare (6.4%), construction (6%), wholesale trade (5.3%), and food manufacturing (4.9%).
Meanwhile, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work estimates that occupational diseases cause around 2,500 deaths annually in Greece—most of which go unrecorded.
