Varieties of Gig Work: Germany’s Unique Development in the Platform-based Food Delivery Sector

Abstract

This study examines the unique development of Germany’s platform-based food delivery sector, in particular why the typical gig economy model, which relies on self-employed couriers, has not taken off. Unlike many other countries, Germany’s large food delivery platforms employ their workers and provide them with rights and benefits, including a minimum wage, paid holidays and sick leave. Using a historical-sociological case study approach, the research shows how the early influence of „Bringdienst.de“, which equipped restaurants for online delivery without managing the delivery process, shaped the industry. In addition, a key court ruling in 2020 heightened concerns about bogus self-employment and ultimately led platforms to shy away from the gig worker model, which relies on self-employed couriers.