This is a first in France. Four associations that support food delivery workers filed a criminal complaint on April 22 with the Paris public prosecutor against the food delivery platforms Deliveroo and Uber Eats for "human trafficking." The complaint was filed by the Maison des Livreurs (House of Delivery Workers) in Bordeaux, the Maison des Couriers (House of Couriers) in Paris, and the delivery worker support associations AMAL and Ciel.

"The platforms' business model relies on the exploitation of a highly vulnerable workforce, largely composed of immigrants, in appalling working conditions, for mere survival wages," lawyer Thibault Laforcade told AFP, describing the action as "unprecedented" in France.

According to Jonathan L'Utile Chevallier, project coordinator at the Maison des Livreurs (Delivery House) in Bordeaux, contacted by InfoMigrants, their "80 to 90 pages long" complaint, "includes a considerable appendix of testimonies, evidence, information, and documents shared by numerous delivery drivers throughout France," detailing the grueling daily lives of these workers, the vast majority of whom are foreign nationals.

In response, in a press release, Uber Eats asserts that this "complaint, which we learned about through the press, is completely unfounded." For its part, Deliveroo says it "vigorously opposes the intentions attributed to it" and "firmly rejects any comparison of its model to a situation of exploitation or human trafficking."

"The platforms pretend not to understand or see the precarious situation of the people who work for them. But we've been raising the alarm about working conditions for years, and a great many reports and studies have been conducted to highlight these practices, even at the UN level," Jonathan L'Utile Chevallier said.

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20 kilometer bike ride for 3 euros net

In France, there are between 70,000 and over 100,000 delivery riders. According to a 2025 survey conducted by Doctors of the World (MdM) and several research centers with a thousand riders, 98 percent were born abroad and 64 percent are undocumented, therefore in an irregular situation.

According to this study, they work an average of 63 hours per week for 1,480 euros gross per month. That is because on these platforms, delivery "workers are paid per delivery, not by the hour," Bilal Diakhate, president of the Ciel delivery workers' collective in Paris, told InfoMigrants, adding that he was "very pleased with the filing of this complaint."

"The app constantly offers delivery opportunities, but a considerable number of the proposed deliveries are substandard, with an absolutely unacceptable level of pay," Jonathan L'Utile Chevallier said. He told InfoMigrants about delivery workers cycling 20 kilometers in Bordeaux, for example, for a delivery that earns 3 euros net. "If these platforms respected these workers and had even a shred of consideration for them, they wouldn't offer such a ridiculous amount. Who accepts that except vulnerable people?" he exclaimed.

In response, Deliveroo claims to be applying an agreement from April 2023 "guaranteeing delivery riders a minimum hourly wage of 11.75 euros." But according to the plaintiffs, the riders, "completely dependent," are "forced to accept any working conditions."

In the Doctors of the World report, 6 out of 10 delivery drivers say they have already experienced verbal abuse from customers or restaurant owners, and a quarter have experienced physical assaults. They also face blackmail and threats of being reported to authorities for those who, being undocumented and therefore without authorization to work legally, rent other workers' accounts. This practice is illegal but very common, and often plunges them into even more difficult situations.

"Around me, I've noticed that the owners of rented accounts demand around 150 euros per week. That means 600 euros per month. So, out of the 1,400 euros earned per month, how much is actually left for these drivers?" Bilal Diakhate asked.

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'In case of injury or accident, we're left to fend for ourselves'

In addition to these "deplorable" working conditions and meager wages, there's also a decline in both physical and mental health, due to a freelance system that pushes drivers to be ever more productive, and therefore ever faster, at the drivers' own peril.

"Right now, we work without any insurance or protection. The platforms don't take our health into account. In case of injury or accident, we're left to fend for ourselves," Bilal Diakhate lamented. "They push us to work on days with bad weather and rain, when it's even more dangerous, but because people order more. In January, when it snowed and the roads were impassable, they increased the price of deliveries to encourage us to work."

In the event of an accident, there is no compensation, Abdoulaye, an Ivorian delivery driver, told InfoMigrants in 2023. "No matter the risk you take, it's not their problem. Even when you have an accident and you call Uber or Deliveroo, the first question they'll ask is: 'Is the order in good condition?'"

Bilal Diakhate, who has worked as a delivery driver for nearly ten years, points to musculoskeletal disorders and genital problems among his colleagues after hours spent delivering. The MdM study also mentions back, shoulder, wrist, hand, and knee pain, urinary problems due to lack of access to toilets, as well as chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

Many of these immigrant delivery drivers, often isolated, also frequently face administrative difficulties and are not always aware of their rights.

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'No legal framework for 10 years'

The associations are also threatening Deliveroo and Uber Eats with a class-action lawsuit for "discrimination" based on an algorithm that assigns deliveries and sets fares, which is "completely opaque." "It doesn't offer the same pay for the same orders between two drivers, and we have absolutely no idea how it works," Jonathan L'Utile Chevallier explained. This results in constant pressure and a fear of being disconnected for the drivers, leading to burnout.

"If there is no satisfactory response" within 30 days, the class action will be brought before the Paris Judicial Court, and if the platform's liability is established, the drivers will be able to join the group and receive the compensation awarded by the judge, lawyer Thibault Laforcade explained. He hopes to set a legal precedent.

With this lawsuit, Bilal Diakhate hopes that Uber Eats and Deliveroo will "reconsider their policies." "The goal isn't to harm the platforms: we simply want them to take action to ensure more humane conditions, so we can access our rights and earn a decent living, like everyone else. If there's a legal process that could balance the relationship and push the platforms to consider us more and protect us, I'll be delighted," he added.

According to Jonathan L'Utile Chevallier, in the space of ten years, the food delivery model on these platforms has barely changed. "Conditions have even worsened since 2016," Bilal Diakhate lamented. According to a report by the French Platform Employment and Social Relations Authority (ARPE) published in 2025, gross hourly earnings at Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Stuart even decreased by a few euros between 2021 and 2024.

"Why? Because they enjoy total impunity. There has been no legal framework for ten years. There is no evaluation of their activity, no oversight, no regulation," Jonathan L'Utile Chevallier explained. The associations hope that the government and political parties will "finally address this issue and legislate on it."

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