Rönni-Sällinen at PAM Council: Directive offers the government a chance to improve the situation of food couriers

A lot is happening around food couriers and the platform economy. The founders and executives of Wolt recently sparked attention with their tax contributions. PAM and the couriers’ own union branch have been negotiating with Wolt for a year without success regarding the working conditions of couriers. At the same time, Parliament is discussing a government proposal on home delivery of alcohol, in which platform companies are given a major role.

Additionally, the European Union directive on improving working conditions in platform work comes into effect at the beginning of December.

– The directive offers the government an opportunity to consider more carefully what kind of platform economy it wants to build in Finland, said Annika Rönni-Sällinen.

Wolt treats couriers as entrepreneurs. Around the world and in Finland, courts have issued differing rulings on whether couriers are considered employees or independent contractors.

– Each new ruling prompts platform companies to adjust their practices to continue avoiding employment responsibilities, Rönni-Sällinen stated.

Being classified as entrepreneurs means couriers are solely responsible for aspects such as occupational safety and social insurance. In practice, however, the platform company dictates how the work is performed and the compensation for it, which has been declining.

The EU directive introduces a presumption of employment, requiring platforms to prove that workers are not employees. Finland does not currently have this presumption in its legislation. Member states have two years from December to decide how to implement the directive into national law.

– The government must implement the platform work directive as soon as possible. It must take the directive seriously and enforce the presumption of employment in the platform economy. We are not against entrepreneurship, but the possibility of pseudo-entrepreneurship must be prevented, Rönni-Sällinen demanded in her speech.

The directive also addresses the use of algorithms and automated monitoring and decision-making systems, which are becoming increasingly common across all sectors.

– In its preparations, the government must choose whether to steer the platform economy towards a model where the actual worker has a chance for decent pay and safety, or whether to stick to a model where platforms, by pushing legal boundaries, pocket the profits while avoiding responsibility for workers’ rights, Rönni-Sällinen said.