Supreme Administrative Court: Couriers are employees – A victory for couriers and PAM

The Supreme Administrative Court of Finland has ruled that food couriers are doing work as employees, not as independent entrepreneurs. While their work had some features usually connected to entrepreneurship, the court said it clearly meets all the criteria for an employment relationship as described in the Employment Contracts Act.

PAM believes this is a strong confirmation that courier work is a type of employment. In addition to confirming the criteria of an employment relationship, the court decision also discusses several rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union.

— This decision shows that we have been right all along in demanding that food couriers be recognised as employees and have the protections that come with being in an employment relationship, says Annika Rönni-Sällinen, President of PAM.

Basic rights for couriers

The case focused on whether the occupational safety authority was allowed to require Wolt to keep records of all couriers’ working hours and their compensation. The key question was whether the couriers were working as employees or as independent entrepreneurs. If they were employees, it would also be necessary to consider whether the working hours act applied to them.

On that point, the court ruled that courier work falls under a category of exceptions in the Working Hours Act. That means employers are not required to prepare shift schedules for couriers. However, whether the working hours law applies should always be evaluated case by case.

— The court’s decision finally brings security and clarity to the situation. It doesn’t stop flexible work in the future. We have always aimed for fair working conditions for couriers, and an employment relationship guarantees that. This is great news for the thousands of couriers working today, says Papy Nkunda, chairperson of the union branch PAM Couriers Finland.

Employment doesn’t happen automatically

Employment relationships come with responsibilities for the employer.

— This means that the employer must follow laws like the annual holiday law and workplace safety legislation also for couriers, Rönni-Sällinen points out.

This court decision is a legal precedent. It clears up the legal situation that has been unclear for a long time. But it doesn’t automatically change anyone’s personal status—couriers won’t automatically become employees just because of the decision. They still need to actively request to be recognised as employees.

— Of course, we expect Wolt to follow the court’s decision, Rönni-Sällinen says.

The ball is in Wolt’s court

PAM and the PAM Couriers Finland branch had already tried to negotiate working conditions with Wolt, but those talks didn’t lead to results.

— This ruling gives us a new opening for negotiating a collective agreement, Rönni-Sällinen says.

She added that PAM will now assess the situation and continue talks with both PAM Couriers Finland and Wolt.

— A lot depends on how Wolt chooses to respond to this ruling.

Read next

News

international cooperation

Platform economy

First steps toward international regulation of platform economy taken at the International Labour Conference

11.6.2025

Articles

employment relationship

Young people without working life skills?

4.6.2025

Articles

Platform economy

Court rules that food couriers are employees — what does this mean for couriers?

23.5.2025