More than 200 former Foodora couriers are seeking compensation from the now-defunct meal delivery platform in a legal case currently being heard in a Paris court. Their lawyer, Me Kevin Mention, represents 231 former workers who claim they were misclassified as self-employed contractors rather than employees, despite working conditions that suggest otherwise. Foodora, a German-based delivery service, admitted to these hidden labor practices in France and paid a fine of 200,000 euros in March during a plea hearing, avoiding a criminal trial. The company ceased operations in France in 2018, when it employed around 4,600 couriers who delivered meals on bicycles and scooters. The couriers are seeking between 3,000 and 6,000 euros for moral damages and an additional 4,000 to 6,000 euros for financial instability, depending on their tenure with the company. However, their lawyer emphasized that the case is as much about raising awareness of the workers' experiences as it is about financial compensation. "It's an opportunity to speak about the former couriers, what they went through, to make things move," Mention told AFP. He added that such cases often remain underreported, with companies taking advantage of the lack of public scrutiny. Pierre B., who worked as a courier in Paris from September to December 2016, described the job as initially appealing, especially during his studies. However, he recounted deteriorating conditions, including dangerous work environments. "There were rainy evenings where I broke my leg, with bruised knees and a broken bike," he said. He noted that the dispatch system, which assigns orders to couriers, prioritized speed over safety. During one incident, he was asked, "Are you sure the order is completely destroyed?" despite his injuries. Tristan, who worked for Foodora from 2016 to 2018, recalled instances where dispatchers, though not intentionally harsh, were under pressure from management. He described an incident where he continued working with a severely injured knee because canceling mid-shift meant losing pay. He also mentioned that managers would inspect couriers' uniforms and equipment, treating them like employees despite their classification as independent contractors. Dorian, who worked in Nantes from 2016 to 2018, noted a loss of control over his schedule, a sentiment echoed by another former courier, Pierre, who described being assigned orders in distant areas without considering the time needed to return. Foodora's lawyer has not yet responded to AFP's request for comment.