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16.04.2026 09:25

Full-time risks, part-time label of courier work

Courier work is not part-time. For many it is their main source of income. It involves full-time risks, while protection is minimal, writes Md Abdullah Al Hasan on the blog. Couriers deserve recognition and fair terms.

Blurred black-and-white photo of a helmeted courier riding a speeding scooter with a delivery box through an urban street, suggesting the fast pace and risks of delivery work.

Recent comments suggesting that courier work on the Wolt platform is primarily suitable as part-time work have sparked an important discussion about how this job is understood and valued. While the label may appear harmless, it does not reflect the lived reality of many couriers who depend on delivery work as their main source of income. For a significant number of workers, this is not occasional side money. It is the income that pays rent, covers food, and keeps households running. Flexibility does not automatically mean the work is secondary.

The contradiction becomes clearer when examining the risks involved. Couriers operate daily in traffic, often in harsh weather conditions, and under constant time pressure. They absorb the cost of accidents, winter exposure, and equipment wear. Vehicle maintenance, insurance, fuel, and operational expenses are carried by the workers themselves. At the same time, there is no paid sick leave, no employer pension contributions, and no guaranteed minimum income. The risk profile resembles full-time employment, yet the level of protection remains minimal.

Flexibility is frequently presented as the defining advantage of courier work, but in practice it is limited. Peak-hour incentives encourage couriers to work during specific times, and algorithmic systems reward constant activity. Rejecting orders or remaining inactive can reduce opportunities. Income fluctuates depending on demand, pricing changes, and the number of couriers on the road. Combined with hidden operational costs such as fuel, repairs, insurance, mobile data, and taxes, actual earnings can drop significantly.

The argument that part-time status justifies lower pay is also inconsistent with Finland’s labour model. In many sectors, collective agreements apply the same pay principles regardless of whether a worker is part-time or full-time. Basic rights and fair compensation are not reduced because someone works fewer hours. Applying a different standard to courier work raises important questions about fairness and responsibility.

Platforms benefit from couriers being widely available, reliable during peak demand, and able to handle fluctuating order volumes. They depend on a workforce that behaves like full-time labour, yet the same work is described as part-time. When a job carries full-time risks, pays full-time bills, and demands consistent availability, calling it part-time does not reflect reality. Courier work deserves recognition based on its actual conditions, not labels that minimize its value.

The author Md Abdullah Al Hasan is a member of the Board of PAM Courier Finland.

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Platform economy

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