Poland App-Based Delivery Work

Anna Rue

I personally guarantee that we will honestly and decently do our job!

PPG assessed the impact on workers, consumers, and small businesses if Poland implements the EU Platform Work Directive (PWD) that reclassifies courier partners as employees.

Our report finds that the implementation of the PWD in Poland could have the following economic impacts:

Consumer delivery prices would likely rise between 9–12%, disproportionately affecting lower-income households, with knock-on effects reducing consumer demand by 5–14%.
It could also lead to annual merchant revenue losses of between PLN 184 and 534 million. By 2030, these losses could climb to as much as PLN 750 million each year, further weakening small and medium-sized local businesses that currently make up 97% of merchants using such platforms.^{[1]
McKinsey, Retail’s need for speed: Unlocking value in omnichannel delivery, September 8, 2021}
At the same time, the number of available earning opportunities in app-based delivery is projected to collapse by 75–78%, from an estimated 52,000 today to as few as 11,000 after reclassification.

The study also highlights that flexibility is not incidental, but essential to why workers choose app-based delivery. As many as 85% of couriers say they prefer to remain independent contractors rather than move into traditional employment, while 76% indicate they would stop delivering altogether if deprived of the ability to choose their own hours, routes, or tasks.^{[2]Copenhagen Economics. 2024. Survey of Courier Partners.}

For many, particularly students, parents, and those combining multiple sources of income, flexible app-based work is the only viable option.

Overall, we find that if PWD were to be implemented rigidly, couriers would see their collective annual earnings shrink by PLN 24–71 million, while state tax revenues could fall by up to PLN 64 million through lower corporate tax and VAT receipts.

The report was published in both English and Polish to ensure broad accessibility, particularly for the local policymaking community and stakeholders.

Media coverage of our report

Umowy o pracę dla dostawców. „Restauracje i sklepy stracą nawet pół miliarda złotych” (Employment contracts for suppliers. “Restaurants and shops will lose up to half a billion zlotys”)

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Usługi firm kurierskich zdrożeją. Ceny mogą się nawet podwoić (Courier services will become more expensive. Prices could even double)

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Poland App-Based Delivery Work

Poland App-Based Delivery Work

Anna Rue

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