Trade unions demand an investigation into the employment status of Wolt couriers
Finnish trade unions have turned to the Parliamentary Ombudsman regarding questions surrounding the employment status of Wolt couriers. The unions want to determine whether the occupational safety and health authority has sufficiently supervised the operations of the food delivery service Wolt in Finland.
The debate over the status of couriers has been ongoing for a long time. Wolt couriers currently work primarily as independent contractors, which means they do not have the same rights as employees in traditional employment relationships. According to the trade unions, this arrangement may undermine the security and rights of workers.
Now, the trade unions want to know whether the authorities have had the necessary means and the will to supervise platform economy companies. They argue that it is important to ensure that labor legislation is also followed in modern digital services.
The task of the Parliamentary Ombudsman is to oversee that authorities comply with the law and fulfill their duties correctly. The investigation now underway is intended to provide an answer as to whether the occupational safety and health authority has acted appropriately in the matter.
The case is part of a broader discussion on how the rules of working life are changing as jobs increasingly shift to digital platforms. The processing of the matter will continue as the authorities conduct their investigations.