On July 4, 2023, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Wolt Georgia platform with a recommendation to eliminate discrimination on the ground of dissenting opinion in labour relations.

According to the case materials, the company blocked access to the application for two couriers after they publicly spoke about problems and engaged in other protest activities.

Based on the latest standards developed by international institutions and courts of different countries, the Public Defender considers that the couriers working through platforms, regardless of their "partner" status, are persons in labour relationship with the company and, therefore, they have the right to enjoy guarantees based on labour legislation.

In addition, the Public Defender described the SMS sent by Wolt Georgia to other 142 couriers, urging them to refrain from participating in protest activities, as discrimination.

Based on the above, the Public Defender requested Wolt Georgia to immediately restore the couriers’ access to the application; not to allow discriminatory treatment due to different opinions and/or other grounds in labour relations in the future and to ensure the implementation of the equality policy in the company.

The Public Defender evaluated the activities of persons working through platforms as labour relations for the first time in the case relating to the Bolt Food couriers, and later reflected the same standards in the recommendation issued to Glovo.

It should be noted that after receiving the recommendation, Glovo restored the courier’s access to the application.