A Federal Labour Court in Germany has found that an adequate bicycle and smart-phone are necessary work equipment for food delivery couriers, and thus must be provided by the employer.
“Bicycle delivery workers (so-called “riders”) who deliver food and beverages and receive their orders via a smartphone app are entitled to have their employer provide them with the essential work equipment to perform their job,” the Judge found. “This includes a roadworthy bicycle and a suitable internet-enabled mobile phone.”
A courier in the Gewerkschaft NGG union for food and restaurant workers had his case upheld at the Hessian Regional Labour Court in March, but it was appealed by Lieferando, the firm which employs the courier and the largest food delivery company in Germany owned by Dutch multinational Just Eat TakeAway. The case was thus brought to the Federal Labour Court in Erfurt, where the company was defeated again.
