Times are changing in the world of deliveries and ridesharing, and so is here on Ridesharing Forum. Uber Eats and Deliveroo are currently facing human trafficking complaints from non-government organizations in France. Read on for the scoop.
Associations supporting food delivery workers in France filed a criminal complaint – not just any other complaint, but a criminal complaint – for alleged human trafficking against platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
One of the lawyers accused the apps of making huge profits while behind-the-curtains, workers are being exploited.
Ridesharing media noted how these workers are working 30 days a month, but to earn minimum wages. A year ago, they chatted with a delivery worker rushing through deliveries as fast as possible even at the risk of his life. France 24 found out this situation has been going on for years.
“If you’re not careful, you risk an accident,” the delivery rider, Adama Sidibé, told ridesharing media. “If you don’t arrive within a few minutes, the app sends you a warning, twice, you’re account is blocked.”
This is why four delivery drivers’ associations have recently launched a legal action. They are suing Uber Eats and Deliveroo for human trafficking.
Their attorneys are now accusing the companies exploiting a vulnerable workforce.
The lawyer, Thibault Laforcade, chatted with Ridesharing Forum, saying, “The drivers work up to 60 hours a week in dangerous conditions for wages far below the minimum hourly wage.”
Interestingly and surprisingly, both Uber Eats and Deliveroo have strongly denied the allegations and the accusations.
For one, there’s Uber Eats disputing the study on working hours, defending themselves saying that the log-in hours of the drivers show it’s their choice, and that their compensation actually even increased by five percent compared to 2024. Five percent!
Human trafficking is the exploitation of people through force, fraud, or coercion for labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of abuse. Victims are often deceived with false promises of jobs or better lives, then controlled through threats, violence, or debt.
It is a crime affecting millions, crossing borders and industries. Trafficking strips individuals of freedom, dignity, and basic human rights, making it a severe violation that governments and organizations worldwide actively work to prevent and combat.