On Thursday, ETF joined its Dutch affiliate, FNV, in the East of the Netherlands to observe a court case involving a truck driver who has been living in his truck for months without getting his agreed or legally required payments.
The truck driver, Muhammad, originally from Tajikistan, was brought to the Dutch court by his Lithuanian employer.
In July 2025, Muhammad was hired by a Lithuanian transport company to work as a truck driver across Western Europe. For seven months, he drove through Western Europe delivering goods for big brands such as IKEA and Lidl. During that time, he constantly slept in his truck while not receiving his wages. Under the EU’s Mobility Package, drivers are not allowed to take their weekly rest in the cabin, and employers are required to provide suitable accommodation outside the truck, yet the reality often looks very different.
After months without receiving his promised pay, Muhammad decided to stop his truck at a Dutch parking lot to protest against his exploitative employment conditions. His story is not unique. Just last week, ETF reported on another case led by FNV, with another driver from Tajikistan who also went on a protest and retained his vehicle and load after not receiving his payments from a Lithuanian transport company. That driver ultimately received his money.
The company employing Muhammad has brought him to the Dutch court, demanding that he return the truck and its cargo. Muhammad has refused to hand over the vehicle until he receives the wages he is owed, a position that is also in line with Dutch legislation. FNV has supported his case and provided him with a lawyer. When the Lithuanian company brought Muhammad to the court, he had the legal possibility himself to address his claim to court, which he did. According to EU law, drivers can address their financial claims to a court in a Member State where the transport has been carried out.
Many drivers from outside the EU are recruited by transport companies registered in countries such as Lithuania or Poland. While these drivers often work almost exclusively in Western Europe, they remain employed under contracts from companies based somewhere else, leading to a false posting situation and exploitation. This business model is frequently used to push down labour costs and makes it difficult for drivers to claim their rights and for authorities to enforce labour standards.
The case also highlights the liability of subcontracting in the road transport sector. In this single transport operation, four different companies are involved, illustrating how layered subcontracting can make responsibility difficult to trace. Until now, the Austrian company for who Mohammad has carried out his transports had not contributed to remedy the case.
Over the past month, Muhammad has received strong support from the local community. People have brought him food and drinks, and they have started a fund to support him and his family back in Tajikistan. The court hearing came to an end yesterday, and a ruling is expected within the next two weeks at the latest. By then, Muhammad will learn whether he receives justice.
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