The Diversity Seal was awarded for the first time to 41 large private-sector companies on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the Byzantine and Christian Museum, during an event organized by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family.
The Diversity Seal is an initiative that recognizes private-sector companies that implement policies promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. As part of the event, an interactive discussion was held with the participation of the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michaelidou, the Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Dimitris Papastergiou, the Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Elena Rapti, as well as representatives from businesses and the public. The discussion highlighted that inclusion in the workplace is not merely a philosophy or a corporate principle, but a competitive advantage for companies that want to operate according to modern standards, make better use of their human resources, and create workplaces that are open, safe, and fair.
During the interactive discussion, Domna Michailidou brought the topic of inclusion down to the level of a business’s day-to-day operations by posing specific questions to the audience: Can a person with a mobility disability reach the interview location? Can a mother feel confident that she won’t be judged based on her family situation? What happens when an employee needs to care for a parent, or when a health issue changes the circumstances of their life? “Inclusion doesn’t begin when someone is hired. It begins the moment they decide to pursue an opportunity. And it’s not just about who gets hired, but also about who advances, who is evaluated fairly, and who is supported when facing a challenge. This must be reflected in the way a company hires, evaluates, trains, develops, and supports its people. This is what the Diversity Seal recognizes: companies that move from “I believe in inclusion” to “I operate with inclusion.” In a labor market that is seeking talent, inclusion is a way to make the most of every employee.”
The Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Dimitris Papastergiou, spoke about the importance of this initiative, emphasizing that inclusion in the workplace requires clear rules, accessible procedures, and practices implemented with transparency. Thanks to the contribution of the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, a dedicated digital platform was created, through which businesses submitted their applications, provided the required information, and were evaluated based on the established criteria.
The Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Elena Rapti, presented the program’s report. In her speech, she emphasized: “The awarding of the Diversity Seal to 41 companies marks a significant milestone in promoting equality and inclusion in the workplace. The strong response from businesses to the program’s first implementation confirms that diversity and equal treatment are now a key priority for the Greek business community. I would like to congratulate the companies that were recognized and to thank all those that participated and placed their trust in this initiative from its very beginning. We continue to implement policies that strengthen rights, expand opportunities, and contribute to the creation of a more equitable and inclusive work environment for everyone.”
The event was also attended by the mayor of Limni Plastira, Panagiotis Nanos, who presented the municipality’s initiatives that put inclusion into practice in the region. He mentioned the summer camps in Limni Plastira, which host Roma children, children from Mariupol, and children from Cyprus, creating a space for coexistence and shared experiences for children from different backgrounds. He also presented the “I Walk in Your Shoes” Thematic Park for Equal Access and Inclusion in Morfovouni, featuring an inclusive playground, specially designed play equipment for children with disabilities, and experiential empathy activities that connect inclusion with recreation, nature, and everyday life—without exception.
Diversity Charter Greece – KEAN at the first Diversity Seal award ceremony
The Diversity Awards were presented by the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michailidou, the Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Elena Rapti, the Secretary General for Equality and Human Rights, and the President of Diversity Charter Greece – KEAN, Stavros Milionis, who presented the awards to the 41 companies that stood out for their effective implementation of policies on equality, diversity, and inclusion in their workplaces.
The first presentation of the Diversity Charter marks a milestone for the Greek labor market and seals the strategic partnership between Diversity Charter Greece – KEAN and the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family to promote diversity and inclusion in the private sector. Diversity Charter Greece, chaired by Stavros Milionis, has played a decisive role in recent years in fostering a culture of equality within Greek companies by developing initiatives, training programs, and awareness-raising campaigns that have substantially contributed to changing corporate culture. Close collaboration with Minister Domna Michailidou, the political leadership, and the Ministry’s officials led to the creation and implementation of an award with a substantial impact, which recognizes companies that transform diversity, equality, and inclusion from a commitment into everyday business practice, setting new standards for responsible entrepreneurship in Greece.
The 41 companies that received the Diversity Seal, listed in chronological order based on the date their application was finalized, are as follows:
- PIRAEUS PORT AUTHORITY S.A.
- FOBERA PROTECTION, S.A. – A COMPANY PROVIDING ORGANIZATIONAL, MANAGEMENT, AND BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES
- SOUTH TOURISM COMPANIES, INC.
- Diamantis Masoutis, Inc. SUPERMARKET
- VARIO S.A., a company specializing in the sale of professional products
- J.T. INTERNATIONAL HELLAS S.A., COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY – J.T. INTERNATIONAL HELLAS AEBE
- AVRAMAR AQUACULTURE S.A.
- DIGITECH HIGH TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS S.A.
- PRESIDENTIAL HOTEL AND TOURISM COMPANIES, S.A.
- QUALCO Single-Member Public Limited Company for Information Technology Systems
- QQUANT MASTER SERVICER, A SINGLE-MEMBER PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF LOAN AND CREDIT RECEIVABLES
- NEXT GEN RETAIL SERVICES FOR ELECTRICITY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND INSURANCE BROKERS – SINGLE-MEMBER CORPORATION – KOTSOVOLOS
- HOTEL AND TOURISM BUSINESSES OF SOUTHEAST RHODES, INC.
- CHALKIDADAKIS S.A. – A Company Engaged in Tourism, Hospitality, Commercial, and Manufacturing Activities
- Evangelistria Clinic, S.A.
- KAIZEN DIGITAL SERVICES FOR THE MANAGEMENT, PROMOTION, AND SUPPORT OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS—SINGLE-MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
- SEPTONA S.A., an Industrial and Commercial Company Specializing in Parapharmaceutical Products
- PLAISIO COMPUTERS S.A., A COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN COMPUTERS AND STATIONERY
- NOVO NORDISK HELLAS E.P.E. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
- PRIORITY QUALITY CONSULTANTS BUSINESS CONSULTANTS S.A.
- EUROHOTEL HOTEL CORPORATION
- ERNST & YANG Single-Member Limited Liability Company Providing Consulting Services
- LEASEPLAN HELLAS, A SINGLE-MEMBER COMMERCIAL SOCIETE ANONYME ENGAGED IN VEHICLE LEASING AND FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICES
- CrediaBank, S.A.
- Lidl Hellas and Co., General Partnership
- Eurobank S.A.
- ALBATROS ANONYMOUS HOTEL AND COMMERCIAL COMPANY S.A.
- STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION CULTURAL CENTER, SINGLE-MEMBER S.A.
- GEORGIAIDIS – CASPEDES I.K.E.
- EDUCATIONAL SERVICES S.A.
- Ioannou Private Clinic—Private Polyclinics, Inc.
- CQS S.A., a Customer Service Provider
- PHAEA S.A. (Public Limited Company) for Hotel and Tourism Businesses
- THESSALONIKI PORT AUTHORITY, S.A.
- enaon EDA HELLENIC GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY S.A. Single-Member Public Limited Company
- enaon Sustainable Networks Company, Single-Member Public Limited Company
- ELAIS – UNILEVER HELLAS S.A. (Detergents, Cosmetics, and Food Products)
- “ALPHA-BETA” VASILOPOULOS SINGLE-MEMBER CORPORATION
- Grant Thornton, S.A., a Tax and Consulting Services Firm
- JULIETTE ARMAND – JULIETTE ARMAND, S.A., A COMPANY ENGAGED IN RESEARCH, MANUFACTURE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF COSMETICS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
- THRACE MILLS IOANNIS OUZOUNOPOULOS Public Limited Company for Commercial, Technical, Shipping, and Tourism Enterprises
The initiative is being implemented as part of the action “SUB1&SUB2: Raising Awareness of Diversity in the Workplace,” part of the “Awareness of Diversity” action under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0,” with funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
