The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Transportation / Storage Warehousing And Support Activities For Transportation, Postal And Courier Activities Postal And Courier Activities 53.20 - Other Postal And Courier Activities
600 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
18 March 2025
Employment effect (start)
18 March 2025
Foreseen end date
30 June 2025
Description
Lieferando, part of Just Eat Takeaway.com, is restructuring its operations in Austria. Based in Vienna, the food delivery service is terminating all employment contracts for its riders and transitioning to a freelance model. This decision affects approximately 600 employees directly, with additional contract workers impacted. The operational shift will be completed by the end of June, and the Austrian branch will cease its employment-based operations by late July.
The company cites competitive disadvantages as the primary reason, stating that rivals such as Foodora and Wolt have benefited from lower labour costs due to their use of freelance couriers. Despite previous wage increases and negotiations, Lieferando argues that maintaining employment contracts was unsustainable. The Austrian trade unions and employee representatives have criticised the move, warning of deteriorating working conditions and potential social dumping.
A social plan is under discussion, but severance packages are expected to be limited. Meanwhile, Lieferando assures that delivery services will continue uninterrupted, with freelancers using their own bicycles or e-mopeds. The company remains active in Austria but is expected to rely more on subcontractors. In 2023, Just Eat Takeaway.com reported revenues exceeding €5 billion globally, reflecting a challenging but evolving market landscape.
Eurofound (2025), Lieferando, Outsourcing in Austria, factsheet number 202529, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/202529.
Digitisation and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can affect working conditions in a variety of ways and their use in the workplace raises a host of new ethical concerns.
The retail banking sector is fertile ground for studying the impacts of digitalisation on work and employment. Financial services are increasingly provided online, without the intermediary of customer-facing institutions.
European labour markets have recovered strongly from COVID-19. By the end of 2021, little more than 18 months after the start of the pandemic, employment rates in the EU were almost at pre-crisis levels.
