A call to clean up the tangled web of undeclared work in the speedy world of parcel delivery is on the table, courtesy of MEP Dan-Ştefan Motreanu. With the courier, express, and parcel (CEP) sector booming thanks to e-commerce's relentless pace, this surge has both created jobs and stirred controversy over workers’ rights and fair competition. Stakeholders like workers in the CEP sector, regulatory authorities, courier businesses, and consumer advocates are all watching closely as the debate heats up.
Motreanu, from the European People's Party (PPE), posed a parliamentary question aimed at the European Commission, urging clarity on enforcement measures to combat opaque subcontracting, bogus firms, and unpaid labor under the cloak of complex supply chains. He queries how the Commission plans to level the playing field in this notoriously tricky cross-border industry.
The response, given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu, avoids new laws but outlines concrete steps ahead: bolstering the European Labour Authority (ELA) via the upcoming Fair Labour Mobility Package 2026, proposing a Quality Jobs Act, and redesigning postal and delivery rules through an EU Delivery Act slated for late 2026. These include stronger roles for ELA in monitoring subcontracting and support for mobile and migrant workers. While these reflect measurable initiatives, numeric targets and budgets are not detailed yet.
The policy tilt leans toward enhanced EU oversight and enforcement harmonization across member states, embracing more regulation and transparency to tackle undeclared work and complex employment statuses. This shift may increase administrative oversight but promises stronger worker protections and accountability for major market actors.
workers could see improved protections and recognition; regulatory bodies gain enhanced roles; courier companies face tighter compliance demands potentially raising costs; consumers might benefit from fairer competition and service reliability.
The Commission is expected to respond formally within weeks, with the forthcoming EU Delivery Act and other legislative proposals signaling future regulatory contours in this vital sector.
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