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19.09.2025 15:52

Food couriers fighting for their rights in Germany as well

As many as 2,000 couriers at platform company Lieferando (Just Eat) face losing their jobs. The company is seeking to replace its employees with self-employed contractors.

Lieferando, which operates in Germany and is part of the global JustEat group, aims to reduce the number of employed couriers. This far the situation of food couriers in Germany has been better than in many other European countries.

Many couriers in Germany are in employment relationships, which has guaranteed them a decent income and rights such as sick leave and annual holiday.

Now JustEat is seeking to undermine these rights by terminating its employees. The company plans to replace them with self-employed couriers.

The German Food, Beverages and Catering Union NGG organised several strikes at the beginning of July this year in an effort to improve working conditions. Couriers have demanded, among other things, an hourly wage of 15 euros, Sunday bonuses, and compensation for work-related tools such as car use.

The company is now especially targeting couriers who took part in these industrial actions for dismissal.

Platform companies’ attempts to avoid employment obligations appear to be a Europe-wide trend

In Finland, PAM and PAM Couriers Finland have been working for several years to improve the situation of food couriers. Last May, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that food couriers are employees, not self-employed contractors.

However, platform company Wolt has not complied with the ruling and in September announced that it would seek to have the decision overturned.

The example from Germany shows that even when couriers succeed in gaining employee status, platform companies continue to push for a shift to self-employment.

This allows platform companies to avoid paying employer contributions and to sidestep the minimum wage requirements set by collective agreements or national legislation.

PAM stands in solidarity with the NGG union and the couriers in their struggle against the platform company Lieferando.

Text: Pauli Unkuri

Keywords:

international cooperation Platform economy

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