A study published by Doctors of the World highlights the difficult living conditions of bicycle couriers working for major delivery platforms. Based on more than a thousand testimonies collected in Paris and Bordeaux, it describes long and grueling days for wages deemed insufficient given the intensity of the work performed.
According to this report, these workers accumulate an average of more than 60 hours per week for a gross monthly income of approximately €1.480. The organization also raises concerns about the health consequences of this work, citing chronic fatigue, physical pain, psychological distress, and a high number of accidents.
An increasingly contested economic and social model
The NGO specifically highlights the role of algorithms used by the platforms, which it accuses of imposing constant pressure and a form of dependence on delivery drivers, despite their official independent contractor status. Many claim to strictly comply with the guidelines for fear of losing access to their account, without understanding the criteria for assigning deliveries.
The companies involved dispute these findings, denouncing a biased methodology and pointing to the protections in place for delivery drivers. The debate remains open, however, regarding the true nature of this status, especially as recent court decisions and a European directive call into question the independent contractor model in this sector.
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