Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has launched formal proceedings against the retail chain Dino Polska, four of its transport contractors, and five specific managers. The antitrust watchdog suspects the companies formed an illegal labor market cartel to restrict the movement of truck drivers, suppressing their wages and limiting their employment options.
The investigation targets Dino Polska alongside transport providers Euro Finannce, Jar-Trans, Martrans Logistics, and Mati-Trans. Three managers from Dino and one from both Martrans and Mati-Trans face personal liability for their alleged roles in coordinating the scheme.
According to evidence seized during unannounced raids, the companies allegedly agreed not to hire drivers currently employed by other participants in the agreement. Drivers wishing to switch employers faced a mandatory three-month “cooling-off” period during which no other transport firm serving Dino’s distribution centers could hire them. UOKiK suspects Dino Polska initiated and policed the system, using its control over distribution center access to pressure transport firms into compliance.
The regulator noted that this suspected “no-poaching” agreement allowed the companies to artificially lower recruitment costs and avoid raising salaries. By eliminating the threat of drivers leaving for better pay, the businesses insulated themselves from honest market competition.
The financial stakes for those involved are significant. Under Polish law, companies found guilty of antitrust violations can be fined up to 10% of their annual turnover. Meanwhile, the individual managers involved face personal fines of up to 2 million PLN, which is equivalent to approximately €465,000 euros.
While the antitrust authority focused its charges on the largest players to optimize its enforcement resources, it spared smaller subcontractors whose impact on the market was deemed negligible. This probe follows similar ongoing UOKiK investigations into potential labor cartels involving other major retail chains in Poland, including Jeronimo Martins (Biedronka) and Lidl.
