More trouble is brewing for the German transport group Hegelmann. After losing a legal case in September 2024 brought by nine drivers and following the scandal in 2021 when a company driver, stopped by Belgian police, claimed he had spent seventeen weeks in his truck without pay and with only a few euros to survive, the group is now dealing with a strike by ten drivers from Zimbabwe. These drivers, stranded in German and French parking areas, have taken action against the company in the past few days. The news was once again reported by the Dutch trade union FNV and its spokesperson Edwin Atema, a leading figure in the fight against exploitation.
This time, the Slovak subsidiary of the Hegelmann group, Global Transporte Slovakia, is at the centre of the controversy. The company is accused of non-payment, salary deductions, intimidation, sabotage, and even alleged kidnappings. FNV’s Facebook post on the matter includes interviews with the drivers involved, who shared disturbing accounts of their experiences. Following their complaints and the strike, the employer reportedly sent teams to reclaim the trucks. These interventions were described as intimidating and violent, with the drivers filming the incidents using their smartphones.
"I am scared and worried for my life," one of the drivers says while recording from inside his stationary truck in a parking area in Nuremberg, Germany. "They disconnected the truck’s battery from the outside, and I am inside without power. It is cold, and I cannot turn on the heating. I have no food, but I am afraid to leave the vehicle because I do not know what will happen. They are standing in front of my truck, blocking my way, refusing to leave. They want me to drive and follow them. I am extremely afraid for myself and my life because I do not know what they are capable of."
The video continues with an account of what happened later when someone managed to take control of the truck while the driver was still inside. The vehicle was then driven towards the Czech Republic, with the driver being threatened with immediate deportation. "He got into the truck and started driving; they kidnapped me. He told me they would take me to the Czech Republic to be deported. I managed to record videos while this was happening, while we were moving. Then someone alerted the police, who followed us and caught up with us on the motorway before stopping the truck." According to German sources, the police are currently investigating the incident.
Another driver recounted signing a contract for a net salary of 1,500 euros per month but consistently receiving a lower amount due to unexplained deductions. When he sought clarification from his employer, he was simply told that the missing amounts were used to cover the cost of documents and accommodation, despite the fact that he spent most of his free time in the truck. He also reported that his complaints were completely ignored, making him regret leaving his previous job with an African company.
"Honestly, in Africa, you can talk to your boss about your problems, and the company listens and tries to solve them in time. But here, I tried to speak to my employer, and they did not listen to me. One of the managers told me, word for word, that he did not care about me." FNV’s post ends with a message that serves as a direct criticism of institutions, which are often accused of turning a blind eye to such cases of exploitation: "Is this how Europe treats its essential workers?"
The issue is also gaining the attention of the German trade union Ver.di, which has released a statement calling on politicians and businesses to take responsibility and put an end to the "blatant abuses in the transport sector." Ver.di also pointed out that Germany’s due diligence law requires companies to ensure fair working conditions throughout the supply chain. Global Transporte Slovakia, when contacted by the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau, denied all allegations.
Marco Martinelli
