As UberEats and Deliveroo prepare for EU-mandated payment reforms to better protect their delivery riders, a Paris community centre is already offering support and a safe haven to workers battling tough conditions.
The Maison des Coursiers ("Riders' House"), located in a former EDF utility building, has become a refuge for the city's food delivery cyclists – providing them with free legal and admin services, as well as practical amenities.
"There's a large room where riders wait. There's coffee, tea and food available. There's a microwave, toilets, plugs for charging phones or batteries," Circé Lienart, who has coordinated the Maison des Coursiers since its opening in 2021, told RFI.
"We're right on Boulevard Barbès [a main thoroughfare in the north of Paris], making it easy for riders to come and also keep their bikes secure."
For many delivery workers battling harsh weather conditions and long hours, the space provides welcome relief.
"We sometimes come here to take time out, stay warm, especially in cold weather, enjoy a coffee," said one.
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Health concerns
Paid per delivery and earning well below the minimum wage, the cyclists face significant risks.
"We'll support them with access to healthcare rights because if they have an accident it's very important they can still get treatment. It's quite an accident-prone job. And there are other related health risks," Lienart said.
One rider who visited the centre explained: "I had an appointment with the nurse for health assessments about work, often muscle problems or sometimes infections, all that... It's really hard, but we don't have the choice."
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Legal support
The brightly coloured main room serves both as a break area and support centre. Ladji, an Ivorian delivery rider, finished his fish and attiéké while waiting for his appointment.
"I come here for several procedures. I would even say for everything. To send my CVs to companies, make appointments at the prefecture, family benefits office, social security... I come to sort everything out here," he said.
Many riders are undocumented, and in a precarious situation in terms of their immigration status.
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"At the beginning, we had a large majority of people with irregular status. The difficulty is that riders work a lot, even more than regular employees in general," explained Lienart.
"But they can't access regularisation through work, either because the account isn't in their name, or because they have invoices rather than payslips.
"And the prefectures won't allow regularisation through work. That's also why there's an over-representation compared to other jobs."
Following the success of centres in Paris and Bordeaux, similar projects are planned for Lille and Grenoble.
► This report was produced by Sylvie Koffi for the RFI podcast Reportage en France.
