The food delivery giant Lieferando is facing mounting criticism over plans to cut approximately 2,000 driver positions and increasingly outsource its logistics operations, a move denounced as “organized irresponsibility” by Linke party leader Jan van Aken. The company, which generates hundreds of millions in revenue within Germany, is accused of prioritizing profit margins at the expense of its workforce.
Van Aken, drawing on his own experience delivering goods by bicycle, emphatically condemned the strategy, highlighting the physically demanding nature of the work and emphasizing that employees deserve fair treatment and financial security. He argued that the current situation represents a systemic failure where workers are left vulnerable and unprotected, particularly concerning wages, worker representation and overall job security.
The controversy has ignited calls for stronger regulatory measures, with Guido Zeitler, chairman of the food, beverage and hospitality union NGG, urging the swift implementation of the EU Platform Directive into national law. Zeitler underscored the imperative of safeguarding worker rights and ensuring equitable working conditions within the burgeoning digital labor market, pointing to the precarious situation many drivers already face. He detailed how frequently changing schedules, canceled deliveries and unpredictable working hours severely impact drivers’ income, undermining their ability to rely on a stable livelihood.
The shift towards subcontracting, announced over the summer, raises concerns about a potential race to the bottom regarding wages and labor standards. Critics argue that it signifies a broader trend of companies exploiting loopholes to avoid their legal obligations to employees while simultaneously reaping the benefits of a flexible, on-demand workforce. The situation presents a political challenge, forcing policymakers to grapple with the implications of the gig economy and the need to protect vulnerable workers in an increasingly digitalized world.
