Lieferando Plans Significant Reduction of Delivery Personnel

Lieferando, a prominent food delivery service in Germany, has announced plans to cut approximately 2,000 delivery positions, representing about 20% of its workforce in the country. This decision is largely influenced by the company's intent to shift its delivery model by partnering more extensively with subcontractors, especially for operations in smaller markets.

The move comes as the competitive landscape for food delivery services evolves rapidly, with changing customer expectations for reliable service and quick delivery times. The company's management has indicated that the existing structure may not be sufficient to meet these demands effectively.

In particular, cities such as Hamburg will experience significant impacts from these workforce reductions. The company aims to collaborate with specialized logistics firms that will handle deliveries through their own drivers. This strategy will also be implemented in smaller markets such as Wiesbaden, Lübeck, and Bochum.

Discussions regarding the workforce reduction will be held with the company's overall works council, and negotiations for a social plan are set to begin promptly. The goal is to conclude these discussions by year-end or early in the first quarter of 2026.

Previously, the delivery personnel were mainly directly employed by Lieferando through its subsidiary, Takeaway Express. However, the company now intends to outsource a portion of its delivery operations to third-party providers. This change has already been trialed in Berlin, where the company worked with subcontractors in select districts.

While Lieferando maintains that the practice of engaging subcontractors is common within the industry, this shift raises concerns among labor representatives about the potential rise in precarious work conditions. Other competitors, including Uber Eats and Wolt, have adopted similar models, often leading to criticisms regarding the treatment of delivery personnel.

The issue of false self-employment within the industry has prompted the European Commission to propose a directive aimed at addressing these concerns at the EU level. The need for such regulation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by gig economy workers across the continent.

Labor unions, particularly the NGG (Gewerkschaft Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten), have long advocated for improved working conditions within Lieferando, including calls for a collective bargaining agreement and a minimum wage of EUR15 per hour. The recent decision to outsource part of the delivery operations could complicate these efforts, making it more difficult for unions to advocate for consistent employment standards.

In conclusion, as Lieferando adapts its operational strategies in response to market pressures, the implications for its workforce and the broader labor landscape in the gig economy remain to be seen.