More than 2,500 Pizza Fan employees are facing uncertainty after the company suspended operations. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, this is linked to technical problems caused by the seizure of key company systems during an inspection by the competent authorities.
Speaking to ERTNews about the case, Nikos Milapidis, the secretary-general for Labour Relations, clarified that, based on the information available to the ministry, the outlets had not been officially sealed.
As he explained, the company is unable to operate because its call centre and a unified software system have been seized. The system linked the central company with its 109 outlets across Greece.
He said initially:
«The business has shut down; operations have been suspended for technical reasons because it appears that the competent administrative authorities have seized the call centre and a unified software system that linked the main company with its 109 branches across Greece.
So, the outlets have not been officially sealed, but the business is technically unable to operate because key operating systems have been seized at this time».
He added:
«If the company's intentions, based on the statement we saw on Friday — namely, to reopen the business and safeguard jobs — are genuine, and if the problems can be resolved as soon as possible, so that the operations described can resume — taking orders and enabling customers to buy products in person, and, obviously, calling employees in to provide their services — then the employees, who it should be noted have active contracts and accrued claims to current wages, want to return to work.
While they remain in this limbo, they too find it difficult to make decisions, partly because they have their own lives and priorities, but there is another point: if the company intends to restore operations very soon while the tax audit is under way, however far it goes, and if the company can do so, then they will be paid their October wages and will be entitled to work».
He also stressed:
«If the company decides — and we do not know this either — whether the suspension is temporary or permanent, employees are still entitled, if the company decides to dismiss them and terminate their contracts, to severance pay and then unemployment benefit.
At this stage, however, they simply have active contracts and are not providing their services. The sooner a solution becomes clear — I would say an effective one — the more apparent it is that the main priority for the more than 2,500 workers is now the swift reopening of the business, if that is technically feasible and if the tax authority has not taken any further action during its audit. That too is important».
Among other things, he emphasised:
«In any event, the Ministry of Labour will be available for discussions and constructive dialogue, because everyone's main concern is, I repeat, for people to know what tomorrow holds, to be paid the wages they have earned, including their current wages, and, of course, to know what lies ahead for them at work».
Finally, asked about the case involving Choriatiko, Mr Milapidis clarified that, although there appear to be many similarities, operations do not appear to have been suspended at this stage. The outlets have therefore opened and employees have reported for work.
But major questions remain, as the audit progresses, because they do not know whether these businesses will also end up in a similar situation.
At this stage, however, he said, employees have reported for work and are working.