Uber Eats, Deliveroo plan France heat breaks

Uber Eats and Deliveroo said on Wednesday they would stop food delivery cyclists in parts of France from using their apps between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm if those areas are placed under a red heat alert.

The companies presented the measure as a way to protect couriers' health during extreme heat. France is experiencing its third high-temperature episode since May, with temperatures reaching 40.7C in Bordeaux on Tuesday.

No part of mainland France was under the highest red heat warning on Wednesday, and none was forecast to be under that warning on Thursday.

Uber Eats said the time slots were chosen to balance driver safety with limiting the impact on revenue. Ludovic Rioux, a labour activist from the CGT union, criticised the decision, saying it would make vulnerable workers more vulnerable without replacement income.

One Uber Eats driver, Aboubacar, 26, said couriers were suffering in the heat but had no choice because they would not be paid if they did not make deliveries.

La Maison des Livreurs, a non-governmental organisation supporting delivery workers, says about 130,000 meal delivery personnel are registered as working for apps in France. Uber Eats said it sends workers reminders to stay hydrated and helps them access drinking water through partner restaurants. Deliveroo said it had provided drivers with a map of water taps and sought to limit delivery distances.