Deliveroo riders are employees, not freelancers

In a case brought by FNV, the Dutch Supreme Court has confirmed the rulings of the lower courts and held that Deliveroo couriers are employees.

As of 2018, Deliveroo chose to only enter into agreements for services and treated its riders as self-employed workers. In reaction to this, FNV filed a lawsuit contesting this approach and arguing that Deliveroo riders are in fact employees and as such entitled to rights such as sick leave and protection from dismissal.

As was already the case with the Court of Appeal, the ruling was based on an assessment of the relationship between riders and Deliveroo, with certain circumstances, such as payment of wages, the relationship of authority and working during a certain period of time, indicating that an employment agreement existed.

For more information, see here.

The full ruling of the Supreme Court can be accessed here (in Dutch).