Pizza Fan commits to October wages as about 2,500 jobs remain in limbo

Pay commitment at the ministry

The company's representative pledged at a tripartite meeting at the Labour Ministry on 3 November to pay October wages and the statutory pay owed for delay in November to all staff, whether employed by the parent company or at franchise outlets. Labour Minister Niki Kerameus attended, alongside the ministry's general secretary for labour relations, Nikos Milapidis, representatives of the Athens Labour Centre and the Panhellenic Federation of Workers in Catering and Tourism (POEET), and the employer side. According to Giorgos Stefanakis, who leads the Athens Labour Centre and the catering and tourism union, the company also committed to bringing workers back to their posts once the business reopens. NewsIT put the workforce at about 2,500 and reported that the company pledged to keep those jobs. Kerameus had said on Monday, 2 November, that she was satisfied payments had started, stressing that protecting workers was the ministry's absolute priority. The ministry later described the talks in a statement:

“It was a constructive meeting with the representatives of the employees and the company to find the best possible solution. The dialogue continues.”

Company figures and half pay

The company's legal representatives said the 550 staff of the parent company had been paid, along with 80% of franchise employees. In practice, in.gr reported, most franchise workers received only half of their wages, with one half paid into a payroll bank account and the other handed over in cash. The outlet also reported that undeclared cash had disappeared, a point POEET president Giorgos Chotzoglou confirmed to it alongside an employee at a franchise branch. It is still unclear how many employees have received their full entitlements.

Bank accounts and debts

The company asked for a partial release of its bank accounts, but only after its debts to the state have been assessed, which Stefanakis said the company regards as the main obstacle to restarting operations. In.gr said the Authority against black money would decide whether that partial release goes ahead. The other side asked the relevant state services and the social security fund EFKA to establish the exact amount of the debts through a review, so that repayment could be arranged. The company said that being able to make payments is essential for continuing payroll, which is why it ties its financial recovery to the release of the accounts.

Reopening, jobs and next steps

The meeting set no timetable for full reopening or for settling the debts, and branch shutters remain down. Stefanakis said the priority is securing the full insurance and labour rights of the staff and ending undeclared work for good. Chotzoglou described the ten days after 3 November as critical and said his federation had prepared a legislative provision to put before the ministry if the company cannot reopen. He urged workers not to sign any resignation, dismissal or contract-amendment document, and said that in the event of dismissal workers are entitled to the statutory compensation set by labour law. The three sides agreed to reconvene at the ministry in the week of 9 November 2026 to assess any developments.