Swedish Delivery Companies Face Scrutiny Over Labor Practices and Ethical Concerns

A recent investigation highlighted in the book 'Den sista milen' reveals troubling practices within Swedish delivery firms like Airmee and Instabee, accusing them of exploiting drivers and pushing legal boundaries to achieve faster and cheaper deliveries. Allegations include misleading claims about environmental goals and questionable labor practices that raise serious ethical issues in the industry. According to the book, these companies’ relentless race to offer rapid delivery services undermines worker rights and sustainability commitments.

Instabee has responded to this criticism by acknowledging the broader industry challenges discussed in the book. CEO Alexis Priftis stressed that while they take these concerns seriously, he rejects the specific criticism of Instabee’s digital management of contracted drivers, emphasizing that the company prioritizes creating a safe working environment. This stance reflects the tension between operational demands and maintaining fair labor conditions in the growing fast delivery market.

These revelations add to the ongoing debate about the treatment of gig economy workers and environmental transparency among Sweden's delivery service providers, underscoring the pressures companies face in balancing speed, cost, and ethics.