Germany's Lieferando mass layoffs raise fears of worse pay and conditions for delivery workers
In Germany, Lieferando is conducting mass layoffs of its delivery workers, which has raised significant fears about worsening pay and working conditions. The company plans to lay off many riders and replace them with subcontractors, often called a "shadow fleet," who typically provide poorer pay and fewer protections. This move is seen as an attempt to outsource responsibility and reduce costs, leading to job insecurity and decreased wages for delivery workers.
The union NGG has warned about the building of this shadow fleet to force current drivers out of their contracts onto less favorable terms, with over 500 jobs already cut in Berlin. Workers currently earn minimum wage with bonuses for fast delivery, but these bonuses are being cut due to safety concerns, further reducing their income. Similar trends occurred in Austria, where Lieferando terminated all drivers' contracts to push a freelance model with worse conditions. Workers and unions accuse Lieferando's parent company Just Eat Takeaway of undermining fair employment standards and worsening job precariousness for delivery workers in Germany and Austria.
Labor unions and worker federations demand adherence to collective agreements, fair wages, and enforcement of labor protections to stop this shift to precarious subcontracting arrangements. German unions are actively striking and negotiating for better pay and protections in delivery and related sectors, but companies like Lieferando are resisting these efforts and moving toward outsourcing that threatens workers' rights and income stability.youtubewsws+4
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