Negotiations stall between Wolt and food couriers in Finland over pay issues

Negotiations between platform company Wolt and its food couriers regarding pay have stalled, with significant differences in views on fair compensation, according to a statement from the Service Sector Professionals Union (PAM). Discussions on couriers’ working conditions have been ongoing since December of last year.

PAM Couriers Finland’s chairman, Papy Nkunda, emphasized that compensation levels must be adequate for individuals to support themselves with a standard workload. Anu Kähkönen from PAM noted that progress in the negotiations has been insufficient.

Conflicting decisions have emerged regarding the employment status of food couriers. In June, the Insurance Court ruled that a courier from Foodora is classified as an employee with no entrepreneurial risk, stating that Foodora controls the working hours of its couriers through its platform. The court highlighted that Foodora’s algorithm relies on a ranking system, determining delivery windows based on couriers’ performance and work quality, thus restricting their autonomy over working times.

Conversely, in February, the Hämeenlinna Administrative Court ruled that Wolt couriers are classified as entrepreneurs rather than employees. PAM argues that the risks and costs associated with entrepreneurial status are not reflected in the current compensation levels.

Last November, Wolt couriers reported to Yle that their earnings from driving for deliveries had plummeted. A shift in Wolt’s compensation model has led many drivers to stop delivering food by car.