In France, Deliveroo fined 375,000 euros for "hidden work"

Deliveroo bike delivery men in a street in Paris.

AFP/Eric Fefferberg

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The Paris court on Tuesday April 19 imposed a fine of 375,000 euros, the maximum provided for, on Deliveroo France for "concealed work", during a first criminal trial in France of "uberization" with the issue of true status of its deliverers.

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The court fully followed the requisitions of the prosecution who, during the trial last month, had requested the maximum penalty of 375,000 euros in fines against the platform, as well as a one-year suspended prison sentence against two former French managers of the company.

“

 The offense of concealed work 

” is established, said the president of the 31st chamber of the judicial court when announcing the decision.

A Deliveroo spokesperson said the platform was " 

considering

 " to appeal.

Deliveroo was also ordered to pay 50,000 euros in damages to each of the five unions (CGT, Union Solidaires, Sud commerces et services, Sud commerces et services Ile-de-France and Syndicat des transports Légères) which had brought as civil parties for "moral damage".

The two leaders who officiated between 2015 and 2017 were also found guilty of "hidden work".

A third executive was found guilty of complicity in concealed work and received a four-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 10,000 euros.

This court decision will have to be displayed, in particular in front of the premises of Deliveroo for a month, specified the court.

► To read also: Deliveroo trial: the platform model under threat

Deliveroo is responsible for " 

an instrumentalization and misappropriation of labor regulations

 ", with the aim of organizing a "

 systemic concealment 

" of jobs for delivery people who should have been salaried and not self-employed, had estimated during the trial the prosecutor Céline Ducournau whose opinion was confirmed by the court.

The “ 

fraud

 ” put in place had the sole

purpose of employing “

cheaply

 ” its delivery people

, and it does not matter if some are “ 

satisfied 

” with this status or “

 feel free 

”, indicated Ms. Ducournau.

(

With

AFP)

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