Are Wolt Couriers Employees? Unions Seek Answers

Two Finnish trade unions are asking the Parliamentary Ombudsman to investigate how authorities have supervised food delivery company Wolt.

The Service Union United (PAM) and the Auto and Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) say they want to know whether Finland’s occupational safety and health authorities have properly and promptly supervised Wolt’s employment practices.

The issue follows a Supreme Administrative Court ruling last year that food couriers working through delivery companies should be treated as employees rather than self-employed entrepreneurs.

Employee status can provide workers with benefits such as sick pay and annual leave, while employers are generally responsible for social security and pension-related obligations.

Wolt has previously said couriers should be able to choose whether they work as employees or entrepreneurs. The company has also indicated that it plans to appeal the Supreme Administrative Court’s ruling.

PAM and AKT now say that, despite the court ruling, most Wolt couriers are still working under an entrepreneur model.

The unions are asking the Parliamentary Ombudsman to examine whether the authorities have acted appropriately in supervising the situation.