EFFAT condemns the company’s strategy to dismantle its courier employment model
Following mass redundancies in France in early 2024 and then in Austria last May, the Dutch group is continuing its strategy of dismantling its employment model and is now targeting Germany, where it employs nearly 50% of its workforce. The decision to completely close operations in 34 cities and reduce activities in 11 others will result in the dismissal of around 2,000 couriers (20% of the workforce). Persistent rumours suggest that the entire workforce could be affected by the end of next year.
The company’s stated objective is to replace directly employed couriers with subcontracted labour, once again arguing that it is at a competitive disadvantage compared to its competitors who use self-employed workers or subcontractors.
Enrico Somaglia, EFFAT General Secretary, commenting on the announced plan said:
“By outsourcing deliveries to third-party companies, JustEat Takeaway is subcontracting its core activities to cut costs and evade its responsibilities as employer. This decision will cost many jobs and have a negative impact on wages and working condition, making workers more precarious, weakening their rights. We call on JustEat Takeaway to withdraw this plan, engage with EFFAT German affiliate NGG, and stick to its duties of responsible employer ”
This decision comes on the heels of major strikes organised in early July by NGG, to improve the working conditions of delivery workers through a specific company collective agreement and a minimum hourly wage of €15. Virginie Demoucron, EFFAT Political Secretary for Tourism said “It is telling that this was announced only a few days after the NGG mobilisation. It appears to be a deliberate attempt to punish the riders who took part in the protests. Something totally unacceptable. Many of the workers who are to be dismissed were involved in organising or holding works council elections. Why would a company, that previously championed its industry-leading employment model, chooses to align itself with unscrupulous competitors whose profits rely on the exploitation of precarious workers? Is the food delivery sector doomed to remain a playground for unethical operators who ignore workers’ rights and undermine trade unions?”
Swift action is essential — otherwise, for each meal delivered, it is more likely that a worker will be exploited. Everything should be done to prevent workers from falling victim to dubious “shadow fleets” and intermediaries.
EFFAT urges the European institutions and national governments to stop the widespread impunity across the food delivery sector.
In particular, the implementation of the European Directive on platform work, which aims to combat bogus self-employment (Article 5) and ensure liability in cases of abusive subcontracting (Article 3), must be swiftly implemented in all national legislation, particularly in Germany.
Moreover, EFFAT reiterates its call for an EU Directive on Labour Intermediaries and Fair Working Conditions across Subcontracting Chains, promoting direct employment and prohibiting subcontracting of companies core activities.
EFFAT expresses its full solidarity with the affected delivery workers in Germany and with the NGG in their fight against the company’s unjust decision and calls on the company to meet with EFFAT to discuss the employment and business strategy in Europe.
