Jeronimo Martins Polska fined 525 million PLN for labor market cartel

labor market cartel driver mobility competition law UOKiK fines Jeronimo Martins

The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has imposed total fines exceeding 570 million PLN following an investigation into a labor market cartel. The sanctions target Jeronimo Martins Polska, the owner of the Biedronka supermarket chain, which was identified as the organizer and coordinator of the scheme. The fine for Jeronimo Martins Polska alone amounts to 525 million PLN.

The illegal agreement, which operated from June 2017 until at least February 2024, involved 29 transport companies and eight individuals. The cartel aimed to restrict competition for truck drivers serving Biedronka's distribution centers. Under the agreement, transport companies refused to compete for employees, requiring drivers to obtain consent from their previous employers before changing jobs. Those denied consent faced a multi-month blockade, preventing them from working at specific distribution centers for competing firms.

UOKiK stated that this practice artificially suppressed wage growth and limited the mobility of workers. The European Commission reviewed the case and concluded that the conduct breached EU competition rules. Jeronimo Martins Polska has expressed deep concern regarding the communication of the decision and intends to appeal the ruling in court, maintaining that the company did not engage in illegal practices.

Entities

Biedronka · European Commission · Jeronimo Martins Polska · Tomasz Chróstny · UOKiK

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] The illegal agreement functioned from June 2017 until at least February 2024. moj.powiat.pl · truckfocus.pl · www.fakt.pl · next.gazeta.pl · www.telepolis.pl · +1 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Jeronimo Martins Polska was fined 525 million PLN. moj.powiat.pl · superbiz.se.pl · truckfocus.pl · www.fakt.pl · next.gazeta.pl · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] The fine also covers 29 transport companies and eight individuals. moj.powiat.pl · superbiz.se.pl · truckfocus.pl · www.fakt.pl · next.gazeta.pl · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Transport companies agreed not to compete for drivers by requiring consent from previous employers for job changes. moj.powiat.pl · superbiz.se.pl · truckfocus.pl · www.fakt.pl · next.gazeta.pl · +8 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) imposed total fines exceeding 570 million PLN. moj.powiat.pl · superbiz.se.pl · truckfocus.pl · www.fakt.pl · next.gazeta.pl · +6 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Jeronimo Martins Polska intends to appeal the decision in court, maintaining they did not engage in illegal practices. www.wiadomoscihandlowe.pl · www.cmjornal.pt · www.fakt.pl · sapo.pt
[● 13 SOURCES] Jeronimo Martins Polska acted as the organizer and coordinator of the cartel. moj.powiat.pl · superbiz.se.pl · www.fakt.pl · next.gazeta.pl · www.telepolis.pl · +8 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The European Commission reviewed the case and agreed that the conduct breached EU competition rules. next.gazeta.pl · www.theportugalnews.com · www.fakt.pl · sapo.pt