Business · Companies · 13 hrs ago
Just Eat to replace employed couriers with self-employed workers in Switzerland
Just Eat plans to change how it employs couriers in Switzerland, shifting from employees to self-employed workers and outside delivery partners.
The company currently has around 700 couriers, and several hundred may lose their jobs; the exact number is expected in about two weeks, after consultations conclude.
Switzerland chief Lukas Streich says the change is intended to allow more flexible deliveries, including at night, as customers’ habits have changed.
The new approach will vary by region: self-employed couriers are expected in several cities and eastern Switzerland, while a partner will handle deliveries in Ticino.
Couriers in French-speaking Switzerland will remain employees because of a court ruling.
Self-employed couriers may choose whether to accept particular jobs, but they do not get paid holidays or income if they are sick or injured.
Unions oppose shifting business risks onto couriers and are calling for the company to follow employment and social protection rules.
Just Eat plans to replace employed couriers in Switzerland with self-employed workers and external fleet partners.
Several hundred of its roughly 700 couriers could lose their jobs, but the final number is not yet known.
Switzerland chief Lukas Streich says the change is intended to allow more flexible delivery times, including at night.
The plan varies by region, and couriers in western Switzerland are to remain employees because of a court ruling.
Unions oppose the move, arguing it could weaken worker protections and transfer business risks to couriers.
- Who
- Just Eat and its roughly 700 couriers in Switzerland are affected.
- What
- Just Eat plans to shift from employed couriers to self-employed couriers and external fleet partners. Several hundred employees could lose their jobs.
- When
- The plan was announced on 22 October 2026. The exact number of affected couriers is expected after the consultation process, in about two weeks.
- Where
- Switzerland, with arrangements varying by region.
- Why
- Just Eat says customer habits have changed and the new model would allow more flexible delivery times.
Just Eat
Unions Syndicom and Unia
Reason for the change
Just Eat
The company says customers want more flexible delivery times, including at night, and that employee shift schedules cannot accommodate this.
Unions Syndicom and Unia
The unions say competition and short-notice availability must not shift business risks onto couriers or weaken worker protections.
Employment model
Just Eat
Self-employed couriers can choose whether to accept assignments, and the company says this offers flexibility.
Unions Syndicom and Unia
The unions oppose the use of workers they describe as falsely self-employed and call on Just Eat to follow the law and applicable employment agreements.
Just Eat’s Switzerland chief announced the planned shift from employed couriers to self-employed workers and fleet partners.
The company expects to know how many couriers will be affected after the consultation process.
- Current couriers
- Around 700
- Potential job losses
- Several hundred; exact number not yet known
- Ticino
- Fleet partner On Duty
- Western Switzerland
- Couriers are to remain employed because of a court ruling
- Planned self-employed courier regions
- Zurich, Bern, Basel, Winterthur and eastern Switzerland
3 sources
What people are saying
This is not a cost-cutting measure, but a response to customer needs, which have changed significantly over the past five years.
They also want a hamburger at around 2 a.m. or cake and matcha latte in the afternoon.
Competition and short-term availability must not lead to business risks being passed on to individual couriers.
The food delivery and courier service is copying the Uber Eats model, which has triggered fierce competition in the industry using illegal methods.