Wolt in Hungary exposed: Is the food delivery sector really filled with guest workers?
Picture this: You’ve ordered dinner on an app, and the courier who delivered your food didn’t know Hungarian or even English. No worries, you managed to communicate with an “enjoy” and “thank you”. You might have had a similar experience before with Wolt in Hungary. Indeed, it’s a common impression that there are a lot of foreigners among the delivery people in the country. Let’s delve into this claim below.
Világgazdaság.hu asked the Wolt courier company whether they employ guest workers and, if so, what the ratio of foreign and Hungarian workers among their delivery people is. The company responded to the news site’s questions in writing.
Wolt in Hungary emphasised that anyone can be a food courier who lives in the country and that they do not keep records of their employees’ countries of origin. The company currently has contracts with more than 8,000 active courier partners on a monthly basis.
Are there many foreign couriers employed by Wolt in Hungary? – The company responds
First and foremost, Wolt in Hungary pointed out that since the couriers are not employees of the company, but delivery partners with a service contract, we cannot talk about the employment of guest workers in their case. Couriers contract with the company as sole proprietors, through cooperatives (e.g. a student organisation) or through a fleet partner.
As Wolt in Hungary explained, “Courier companies are often associated with foreigners, as it is easier to spot them on the street or meet them when they deliver our orders.”
At the same time, the company highlights that they do not ask for information regarding one’s nationality when hiring couriers, as “Neither [their] system nor [the] company’s mentality allows any kind of negative or positive discrimination – regardless of gender, age, work membership form or country of origin.”
In response to the questions from Világgazdaság, however, they wrote that overall their experiences with workers who are not Hungarian have been positive and that they are constantly monitoring customer feedback to ensure that there are no complaints about the speed or manner of deliveries.
Why is working as a courier a great source of income for some?
At the same time, there are several reasons why becoming Wolt couriers in Hungary might be an attractive prospect for workers from foreign countries.
As Wolt in Hungary explains, the cost of entry for the job is relatively low: it is enough if the applicant has a bicycle, as knowledge of the Hungarian language is not necessary. In addition, working hours are extremely flexible. Couriers can undertake the delivery of as many orders as they wish whenever they have some free time. For example, there are contractors at the company who run errands for 1 hour every two weeks or every month.
This allows Wolt couriers in Hungary to study or have full-time jobs and take on delivery as a source of extra income on the side.
The company also highlights this possibility: “Regardless of nationality, courier partners in many cases regard delivery services as an opportunity to earn an additional income,” often as a short-term solution for financial troubles.
Világgazdaság also wanted to know how Wolt in Hungary finds foreign workers and what proportion of the total number of couriers they make up, as well as how much customer demand the company has, how many sales it closed last year and this year and what its expectations are regarding price increases in the coming months. However, these questions were not answered.
Read also:
Guest workers: new law may simplify Chinese and Russian immigration to Hungary – Read the story HERE
Will food delivery couriers disappear from Hungary due to drone delivery? – Read more HERE
Source: Világgazdaság
This is a travesty! There are Hungarians who could do this job easily but are crowded out of the market. More importantly, how many of these delivery men have valid visas and work permits. Wolt cannot be contracting their services without establishing their legal right to work here but the fact it says it doesn’t know how many of its delivery personnel are foreigners means it conducts ZERO checks. Surely this is something for the Government to take a very close look at.
Dear Michael, did you read the article? The most of those workers are students with valid visas, hence with the right to work. Besides that, wolt really check the documentation of the riders before offering a job. I have done such applications so i know how is the process. But if you are ao jealous of these guys taking jobs, why dont you apply and bring my meal?
Hungary needs a PROCESS to grow it’s continuous DECLINGING – ageing Population.
The growing FACTUAL list, of the humongous FAILINGS over 14 plus years of the present Victor Orban – Fidesz led Government of Hungary, have not been ABLE – on just the subject topic of Population growth, make effectual policy decisions, to INCREASE the needed numbers of Hungary’s population.
We KNOW besides the ratio of deaths over birth of “little ones” – in the 14 years of the Orban – Fidesz Government it’s wrongful TREND but the “movement” of Hungarians, from “all stations in life” could be said, of ALL age groups, has been, continues to be, an ABSOLUTE migraine for Hungary, bought on through the FAILINGS “broadsheet” across all the componentry of Hungary, through a Fidesz Government, that set a FUTURE course, over 14 plus years in Government, under Victor Orban, that for Hungary, continues to present a GROWING picture that will be Perilous.
The “Guest Worker” policies that continue to be “Played” around with by Orban and his Fidesz Government, from the initial concept, there introduction operation in Hungary, never was it to be AVOIDED – would “grow” into being a cataclysmic DISASTER – for Hungarians firstly and secondary, for Hungary.
Is this “Guest Worker” policy of introduction centered muchly – driven by a Fidesz Government under Victor Orban, that could be said as a “Face Saving” policy, a sort of ATTEMPT – a “Mea Culpa” – with Brussels, the European Union ?
WHY – does it APPEAR the people of Asian background / birth, in particular, a country Hungary is “in bed with” – China, these policies appear to give favouritism to people(s) from China ?
Steiner Michael, who has made transparent as a commentator to this platform, his/hers Political support to the Orban – Fidesz Government,
WHY – as Steiner Michael, suggested, after the GROWING humongous gargantuan MESS this “Idiotic” policy of direction from the Orban Fidesz Government, has CREATED and it will WORSEN – why does Steiner, make reference – that the “Government to take a very close look at”.
Steiner Michael, you don’t NEED to be a Rhodes Scholar to make a reply to your “want” of an Orban Fidesz Government “look at” – as THEY have been AGAIN, the creators of policies, that from there outset, interfaced, formed in there conception, tied related aligned to – the FUTURE vision and plans – through the Distillation of DEMOCRACY in Hungary, by Victor Orban and the Fidesz Government, to “ease” the way of entry, make available the facilitation of conditions of ENTRY into Hungary, of people, from the Orban – Fidesz Governments GROWING partnerships with China and Russia.
DEMOCRACY – rid it, at ALL costs, and as the Orban – Fidesz Government grows being in a FACTUAL European and Global position of PRESSURIZATION, through an Economy that is WRECKED, this present Hungarian Fidesz Government, will up its PACE in there relationship with Governments, that are Governed under Communism, under Dictatorships, they being Hungary’s closest growing FRIENDS – China & Russia.
It ALL Worsens – and in our MILLIONS we are being tortured, battered, scarred and damaged, our country Hungary, being disgraced, embarrassed and humiliated GLOBALLY especially in country’s Governed under DEMOCRACY = FACT.
Dear Michael, unbelievable nonsense. Wolt or any other company can not accept any person WITHOUT valid residence permit and valid documentation. As Jose said, you dont like it, then go and register yourself and we will be happily receiving our food delivered by you!!!.
another claim which should be emphasized, that some of the worker does not speak neither English nor Hungarian, TOTAL NONESENSE. Those seasonal workers or students who comes here at least they speak English!
Ignores another human resources issue in Hungary i.e. school age mid teens and university students, mostly don’t work when there are vacancies, why?
Normal in most places whether low or high income families, teens start doing part time work e.g. supermarkets, fast food, retail, labouring etc., why not young Hungarians when there is working age decline?
Middle class pretensions or ‘work shy’?