Agmaz has found itself at the center of controversy after a driver accused its owner, Lukasz Mazur, of an attack involving pepper spray and death threats during a stop. This incident follows protests at the German rest area of Grafenhausen in 2023, where around a hundred drivers turned off their engines to demand unpaid wages and assert their rights. According to the Fnv union and its spokesman Edwin Atema, who also covered the Grafenhausen case, Mazur assaulted one of his drivers, an Uzbek national driving from Italy to Germany, who had recently requested back pay.
The driver released a video showing him distressed and frightened, with a swollen face and eyes from the pepper spray. He managed to capture moments after the assault, which only ended when another driver, drawn by his screams and calls for help, intervened.
The incident has caused significant uproar and capped a challenging week for Mazur's company. Retail giant Aldi recently instructed all its suppliers via a letter to cease transportation orders with any Agmaz group company. Aldi expects its commercial partners to meet due diligence obligations in human rights and environmental standards, although no investigation or court has fully clarified the violations by the Polish company.
Aldi spokesperson confirmed the contents of the letter, stating, "Our company has never maintained a direct contractual relationship with Mazur’s companies. Supply chain companies must ensure that their contractors comply with human rights and environmental protection standards, fundamental values of our corporate culture. It must be emphasized that Aldi is legally required to fulfill these due diligence obligations."
Trade unionist Anna Weirich, coordinator of the Fair Mobility association, also commented on the issue, stressing the responsibility of all logistics companies for the working conditions of their drivers. "If the Grafenhausen protests have pushed companies to reflect on this, then they have achieved something significant for all truckers. However, ending business relations with individual transport companies should be a last resort. Primarily, companies should ensure the rights of workers in their supply chains. Yet, so far, we have seen little change; our consultations and field checks show no improvements."
Many drivers share this concern and have expressed their opinions on major social media platforms. They believe that Aldi’s ban will not prevent Mazur from carrying out transports for the German giant. Through freight exchanges and subcontracting, Agmaz could easily circumvent the ban and continue sending its fleet to Aldi's warehouses and those of its suppliers.
Mazur owns a third, less-known transport company with 379 trucks, Mlogistyka Spółka Z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością, recently established to replace Imperia, sold in 2023. Following the Grafenhausen unrest, Agmaz Lukmaz's trucks have become less recognizable, and the use of manually completed CMRs allows Mazur to load any type of goods unbeknownst to shippers.
Marco Martinelli
