Biedronka fined over driver hiring pact

Poland’s competition authority has imposed more than PLN 570 million in fines on Jeronimo Martins Polska, 29 transport companies and eight individuals over agreements that restricted competition for drivers serving Biedronka distribution centers. UOKiK said the carriers agreed not to compete with one another for drivers, while Jeronimo Martins Polska coordinated the arrangement. The conduct ran from June 2017 until at least February 2024, according to the regulator.

UOKiK said the agreements limited drivers’ ability to change employers because their previous workplace could affect whether another carrier would hire them, regardless of qualifications. The European Commission reviewed the decision and agreed with UOKiK’s assessment that competition rules had been infringed. Jeronimo Martins Polska received the largest penalty, totaling PLN 525,535,050. UOKiK said the practice affected employment conditions for several thousand drivers and could reduce competitive pressure on wages for drivers.

Source: 300gospodarka.pl