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Disgust, exploitation, work pressureTeam Wallraff undercover at DPD! Packages at the expense of humanity?
Team Wallraff's team of reporters undercover researched the parcel service DPD.
RTL
How safe are parcels and employees at DPD subcontractors?
Enormous work pressure, unpaid overtime, offers of illegal money and miserable conditions in accommodation: Team Wallraff's reporters came across all of this during their months of undercover research in connection with one of Germany's largest parcel services. They also received explosive documents on occupational safety in some of the dilapidated depots.
Undercover reporters receive offers of dark money
The parcel industry has been criticized for its working conditions for years. During previous undercover missions as a parcel delivery man, Günter Wallraff experienced how much the work wears down drivers. Has anything changed? The Wallraff team received numerous tips that suggested the opposite – especially often about DPD.
DPD primarily has parcels delivered via subcontractor employees. During their undercover operations, the reporters experience that this system helps push drivers to their limits and encourages their exploitation. Reporter Alexander finds a job in Berlin through an advertisement with a subcontractor who promises up to 3,000 euros net for a 40-hour week. On site, a colleague tells him about his mini-job contract with additional cash payment – and Alexander is also offered this model by the boss of the subcontractor. Also in Essen, a colleague reporter Vladyslav describes the possibility of receiving part of the salary in cash.
Since 2019, “subcontractor liability” has been intended to make parcel services jointly responsible for ensuring that social security contributions are paid correctly by commissioned subcontractors. Team Wallraff's research shows how little protection parcel delivery provides in practice.
In the press statement, DPD states that it understands the critical discussion about the employment of subcontractors, but that this is the market standard and necessary to secure jobs and competitiveness. And further: “We have established binding (…) standards that (…) expressly also apply to business partners and subcontractors.”
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DPD drivers are said to have to pay for damages themselves
In addition, a driver reports to reporter Alexander about flat-rate daily pay, regardless of working hours. During their assignments, both reporters are on the road for ten to twelve hours a day, sometimes without breaks. The reporters also repeatedly hear that costs for damage to cars, for example a taillight for 800 euros, and lost packages are passed on to the drivers by the subcontractors.
DPD only answers 67 questions and one interview request with a short, general statement and says: “All of DPD's contractual partner companies must undertake to comply with all legal requirements, in particular minimum wages, legal requirements for working hours and fair working conditions. We use a mandatory qualification process in advance.”
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Disgusting accommodation for extortionate rent
Many subcontractors specifically recruit employees in Eastern Europe – often with the promise of jobs and accommodation. The team also received information about grievances, which were confirmed during an undercover operation by reporter Vladyslav in Munich. For around 400 euros a month he gets a place in a 16 square meter three-bed room with two strangers. The accommodation has only a poor kitchen, a toilet without a lock, mold in the shower, lots of bugs and sheets attached with tape instead of curtains.
In addition, an informant leaks extensive documents to the team that indicate significant security gaps in DPD depots. These include, for example, a map from 2024 that shows 89 locations. As can be seen from the documentation, inspectors at the time apparently found significant safety deficiencies and thus accident risks in around three quarters of the systems depicted. Reporter Vlad also noticed safety risks during his test day as an applicant for a loading and unloading job in one of these warehouses in Erftstadt: Some machines there were partially or even completely missing protective rails. According to the informant, the DPD leadership is aware of deficiencies in the security precautions, but is taking a very tough austerity course.
DPD states: “Our systems are regularly inspected, including as part of UVV safety inspections, regular occupational health and safety appointments and inspections, as well as inspections by the professional association or state supervisory authorities.”
