Food Couriers: Wolt Bans Sharing and Renting of Courier Accounts

Helsingin Sanomat reports on a significant policy shift by Wolt, the food and product delivery platform, which will ban the sharing and renting of courier accounts beginning in August. This move aims to ensure that only verified account holders are authorized to make deliveries, a measure that will directly impact the gig economy landscape in Finland.

The company cites recent legal precedents and upcoming national legislation, including the EU's platform work directive, as key drivers for this change. Wolt CEO Marianne Vikkula stated that the decision is partly based on "recent court practice." This legal scrutiny has questioned the employment status of couriers, suggesting it aligns more with an employment relationship than independent contracting, with implications for pensions and social security.

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Based on recent court practice as well, we have decided to abandon this.

This policy change is expected to free up thousands of new courier accounts, as approximately 20,000 applicants are currently on a waiting list. Previously, substitute couriers have paid substantial monthly fees, sometimes hundreds of euros, to account holders, significantly reducing their take-home pay. The ban addresses concerns raised by restaurants, experts, and labor unions about the fairness and legality of these account-sharing practices. Helsingin Sanomat will continue to follow the detailed implementation and its effects on the thousands of individuals working as Wolt couriers in Finland.

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Our business involves many challenges. That is self-evident.