VTC platforms increase guaranteed hourly income in the face of rising fuel costs

VTC platforms in France, including Uber and its competitors, announced on Tuesday September 29 that they had increased the minimum hourly guarantee for their drivers in October and November, in the face of rising fuel costs. “Platforms and driver representatives have agreed to temporarily increase the minimum monthly income guarantee from 30 euros to 32 euros per hour of activity,” Uber and the FFTPR, which brings together its rivals, said in a joint press release.

The French Federation of passenger transport by reservation brings together Bolt, Freenow, Heetch and LeCab. The measure is valid for “a period of two months”, explained the platforms. “This is about supporting the income of VTC drivers in the face of rising fuel prices.” This guaranteed minimum, calculated over the entire month, comes from a sectoral agreement signed in 2023 with driver representatives.

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A “very insufficient” measure, according to Union-Indépendants

Some of the people who earned enough not to be affected by this minimum of 30 euros will be included among the beneficiaries of the 32 euros. “This revaluation should make it possible to double the number of beneficiaries of the guarantee. For the drivers concerned, the supplement paid will reach on average more than 200 euros per month, an increase of 30% compared to the average amount paid under the current guarantee,” according to the platforms’ calculations.

An organization representing drivers, Union-Indépendants, considered the measure “very insufficient”. “For a VTC traveling around 6,000 kilometers per month, the increase [in fuel prices] represents on average nearly 300 euros in additional charges per month,” this organization wrote in a press release.

Uber said it was satisfied with the compromise. “This measure illustrates our commitment to supporting drivers in their daily lives, while confirming the importance of accelerating the transition to electric vehicles less dependent on fluctuations in fuel prices,” declared the general director of Uber France, Laureline Serieys, quoted in the press release.