March 2023 - The Netherlands - Supreme Court: Deliveroo meal delivery drivers and couriers are employees and not self-employed

The Amsterdam Supreme Court ruled on Deliveroo’s case: meal delivery drivers and couriers are employees and not self-employed.

So were Deliveroo's delivery drivers employed under an employment contract? The Amsterdam Court of Appeal ruled so, and the Supreme Court upheld that judgment.

Deliveroo couriers worked under contracts described as a contract for services. The trade union FNV found that this description was incorrect and that there were employment contracts. She demanded that the court pronounce a statement that the deliverers were employed under an employment contract. The subdistrict court and the Court of Appeal ruled that employment contracts existed. Deliveroo lodged an appeal in cassation with the Supreme Court against the court's decision. Deliveroo terminated its activities in the Netherlands during the cassation procedure. This has no consequences for the handling of the case. Deliveroo has not withdrawn the cassation appeal in the case.

Read on: in Dutch