Delivery riders working for platforms like UberEats and Deliveroo, many of whom are of foreign origin, have reported a surge in racist behavior and mistreatment over the past few months. Unions have highlighted this troubling trend, noting that platforms are now taking steps to address the issue.
In Brittany, Sheikh, who has been working for UberEats for five years, experienced a disturbing incident in December. A customer hurled racist remarks at him, saying, “You’re bothering us, go back to your country.” Sheikh reported the incident to the platform and the supermarket involved. Fabien Tosolini, his union representative, stated that such incidents are becoming increasingly common.
According to unions, delivery riders often bear the brunt of these situations. Customers frequently lodge complaints against riders, leading platforms to block their accounts. Tariq, a rider working in Rennes, faced similar abuse when a customer referred to him as a “slave” and used racially charged language. Tariq’s account was subsequently blocked, leaving him unable to work for four days.
In response to the growing concerns, UberEats and Deliveroo have begun taking the issue seriously. Both platforms have entered agreements with unions to provide financial compensation to affected riders. Deliveroo has also introduced a new feature in its app, allowing riders to easily report incidents of racism.
Unions report that accounts of customers engaging in racist behavior are now being blocked, though the process is not yet fully streamlined. However, many riders avoid filing police reports, making it difficult to achieve justice in such cases.
Riders like Sheikh and Tariq say they will continue their work despite these challenges but emphasize the need for platforms and society to take the injustices they face more seriously. They hope for stronger measures to ensure their safety and dignity while performing their jobs.
