German parcel couriers work 14-hour days amid labour abuse concerns

Germany's private parcel delivery sector is systematically exploiting workers with shifts exceeding 14 hours daily, according to reporting by public broadcaster Tagesschau. Approximately ten million packages arrive in German households each day, with most now handled by private logistics contractors rather than traditional postal services.

The investigation documents widespread labour violations among these private operators. Working conditions frequently breach German labour regulations, raising questions about enforcement and industry oversight. The findings highlight a growing gap between the scale of Germany's e-commerce infrastructure and the legal protections afforded to delivery workers.

Private couriers have become essential to Germany's package distribution network as online shopping surges. Yet regulatory mechanisms appear unable to prevent systematic abuse of workers in the sector. The Tagesschau report signals potential pressure for government intervention in labour standards enforcement across logistics operations.