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NRW Exposes Widespread Safety Failures in Parcel Delivery, Demands Tamper‑Proof Time Tracking

The state cites systemic gaps in subcontractor oversight to justify a federal mandate for tamper‑proof electronic hours recording.

Overview

  • Targeted checks of 57 subcontractors and one company between May and August found 59% with deficient work protection, while only 6% showed no relevant issues.
  • Inspectors interviewed 225 couriers and found more than one third lacked digital time recording, with fueling, loading and vehicle care often not counted as working time.
  • Couriers reported heavy workloads of roughly two tonnes moved per shift, and among 149 delivering items over 20 kg, 53 had no sack truck.
  • Thirty‑nine firms certified under the Paketboten‑Schutz‑Gesetz still showed shortcomings, bolstering NRW’s claim that current federal safeguards are inadequate.
  • Labour Minister Karl‑Josef Laumann calls for nationwide tamper‑proof electronic timekeeping and tighter limits on Werkverträge, warning of intensified inspections during the Advent peak.