French Parliament Proposes Bill to Reclassify Platform Workers as Employees

A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the French Parliament to reclassify platform workers such as Uber drivers and Deliveroo couriers from independent contractors to employees. This legislative initiative aims to address the issue of 'false self-employment' affecting approximately 5.5 million platform workers in France. The bill, supported by senators Olivier Jacquin, Pascal Savoldelli, and deputy Danielle Simonnet, seeks to enforce mandatory reclassification and includes provisions for the administrative regularization of undocumented workers.

This law seeks to comply with a European directive adopted in November 2024, which France must transpose by December 2. The directive targets abusive independent status and underpins the pressing labor concerns voiced by unions, NGOs, and some political figures. French courts have previously ruled against companies such as Deliveroo and Frichti for concealed employment, reinforcing the case for legislative reform.

A 2025 study by Médecins du Monde revealed harsh conditions faced by over 70,000 delivery workers, 98% of whom are foreign-born and 64% lacking legal residence permits, working an average of 63 hours per week for a gross monthly income of €1,480. Following scrutiny, Uber Eats and Deliveroo increased the minimum hourly wage for independent delivery workers from €11.75 to €19 recently.

While the bill's parliamentary debut remains uncertain, it signals significant momentum in aligning platform work with labor rights and social protections, highlighting the government's ongoing efforts, including a concertation mission led by State Councilor Jérôme Marchand-Arvier, to implement the European directive.