Approximately 100 Belgian delivery drivers working for KM Group, an Amazon subcontractor in Flémalle, were collectively dismissed via WhatsApp after the company went bankrupt, leaving them without July’s salary. The workers also claim they have not received the necessary paperwork to access unemployment benefits. This sudden loss of income has left the former employees struggling to pay bills and loans, with no clear direction on what to do next. The General Labour Federation of Belgium (FGTB) and Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (CSC) criticized the way the dismissals were handled and the financial uncertainty the workers are facing.
According to UBT-FGTB Provincial Secretary Daniel Maratta, the workers were informed of the company’s bankruptcy through a WhatsApp message on July 31st, without any staff meeting or opportunity for social dialogue. The unions allege that KM Group’s bankruptcy was prompted by Amazon’s refusal to renegotiate the terms of the contract. Despite the situation, the company has not officially filed for bankruptcy, causing further delays in the workers receiving the wages they are owed. The unions are pushing for the prompt submission of bankruptcy proceedings to expedite the process and ensure the workers can access emergency aid.
The dismissed workers have been directed to social welfare centres to apply for emergency aid, but they have not been given the necessary C4 form containing crucial information about holidays, pay, and tax deductions. Without this form, it is uncertain whether the workers’ applications can be processed. The FGTB-UBT is working to facilitate the collective filing of bankruptcy to avoid a lengthy legal process, where individuals would need to pursue their rights in court. The unions hope to raise awareness of the workers’ plight and draw attention to working conditions in the delivery sector through a demonstration outside the Amazon depot in Flémalle.
The financial uncertainty and lack of paperwork have left the dismissed drivers in a desperate situation, unsure of how to meet their financial obligations without a steady income. The unions are advocating for KM Group to promptly file for bankruptcy to expedite the process and ensure the workers can access emergency aid. By highlighting the workers’ case through a demonstration at the Amazon depot, the unions hope to draw attention to working conditions in the delivery sector and the challenges faced by subcontracted workers. The dismissal of the drivers via WhatsApp and the lack of communication and support from the company have underscored the precarious nature of employment in the gig economy, where workers are often left vulnerable in the event of bankruptcy or contract renegotiations.
