In Copenhagen & London
Getty PhotographsDenmark’s state-run postal service, PostNord, is to finish all letter deliveries on the finish of 2025, citing a 90% decline in letter volumes because the begin of the century.
The choice brings to an finish 400 years of the corporate’s letter service. Denmark’s 1,500 publish packing containers will begin to disappear from the beginning of June.
Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen sought to reassure Danes, saying letters would nonetheless be despatched and acquired as “there’s a free marketplace for each letters and parcels”.
Postal providers throughout Europe are grappling with the decline in letter volumes. Germany’s Deutsche Publish stated on Thursday it was axing 8,000 jobs, in what it referred to as a “socially accountable method”.
Deutsche Publish has 187,000 staff and employees representatives stated they feared extra cuts had been to come back.
Denmark had a common postal service for 400 years till the tip of 2023, however as digital mail providers have taken maintain, the usage of letters has fallen dramatically.
PostNord says it should swap its focus to parcel deliveries and that any postage stamps purchased this yr or in 2024 will be refunded for a restricted interval in 2026.
Fifteen hundred staff face dropping their jobs, out of a workforce of 4,600.
“It is a tremendous unhappy day. Not only for our division, however for the 1,500 who face an unsure future,” worker Anders Raun Mikkelsen advised Danish broadcaster DR.
Denmark ranks as one of many world’s most digitalised international locations.
There’s an app for nearly every little thing: few folks use money, and Danes even carry drivers’ licences and well being playing cards on their smartphones.
Financial institution statements, payments, and correspondence from native authorities are all despatched electronically.
Public providers ship communications by way of a Digital Publish app or different platforms and PostNord Denmark says the letter market is now not worthwhile.
Letter numbers have fallen because the begin of the century from 1.4 billion to 110 million final yr.
The choice will have an effect on aged folks most. Though 95% of Danes use the Digital Publish service, a reported 271,000 folks nonetheless depend on bodily mail.
“There are a lot of who’re very depending on letters being delivered often. These embody hospital appointments, vaccinations or choices concerning dwelling care,” Marlene Rishoj Cordes, from Aeldre Sagen (DaneAge) advised Denmark’s TV2.
PostNord has weathered years of economic struggles and final yr was operating a deficit.
Danish MP Pelle Dragsted blamed privatisation for the transfer and complained the transfer would drawback folks residing in distant areas.
The introduction of a brand new Postal Act in 2024 opened up the letter market to competitors from non-public companies and mail is now not exempted from VAT, leading to increased postage prices.
“When a letter prices 29 Danish krone (£3.35; $4.20) there might be fewer letters,” PostNord Denmark’s Managing Director, Kim Pedersen, advised native media.
He stated Danes had turn out to be more and more digital and the decline in letter volumes had turn out to be so pronounced that it had fallen by as a lot as 30% prior to now yr alone.
PostNord additionally operates in Sweden. It’s 40% Danish-owned and 60% Swedish-owned.
