‘Modern Slavery’ in Finland? Investigation Reveals Couriers Earning as Little as €4 Per Hour

Food delivery couriers in Finland may be earning as little as four euros an hour after expenses, according to a shocking new report by the Service Union United (PAM).

The study tracked the actual income and expenses of Wolt couriers over a week-long period. It found that after deducting essential costs like vehicle maintenance, fuel, and mandatory pension insurance (YEL), the take-home pay for some drivers was just €3.93 per hour.

Even the higher earners in the study managed only €6.65 per hour. These calculations include the time drivers spend waiting for orders, which the union argues is an essential part of the job.

PAM President Annika Rönni-Sällinen described the findings as “labor exploitation.” One courier interviewed for the study went further, calling the conditions “modern slavery.”

Wolt disputes these figures. The company claims its couriers earn between €20 and €21 per hour. However, Wolt’s calculation only counts the time spent actively delivering food, ignoring the unpaid hours drivers spend sitting in their cars or standing on street corners waiting for an app notification.

This discrepancy has fueled a growing sense of frustration among workers. Long-time couriers report that conditions have deteriorated significantly since the Finnish company was acquired by the American giant DoorDash in 2022.

The workforce is predominantly made up of immigrants who often struggle to find other employment due to language barriers.

For many, this work is a survival trap. There are reports of established couriers renting their accounts to undocumented migrants or newcomers for a fee, creating a secondary layer of exploitation within the community.

Academic research backs up the union’s claims. A separate study by University of Helsinki researchers Johannes Svartsjö and Roope Uusitalo found last year that 75% of couriers earn less than €2,000 per month, with an average monthly income of just €1,520.

The situation is complicated by a legal tug-of-war. In May 2025, Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled that couriers should be classified as employees, not independent contractors. This ruling was intended to guarantee rights like sick leave and holiday pay.

Despite this “final” verdict, Wolt continues to operate primarily on a freelance model. This leaves thousands of workers in a legal limbo, classified as entrepreneurs but working under the control of an employer.

Finland does not have a universal minimum wage, but collective agreements in the service sector (such as cleaning or retail) typically set the floor at approximately €11 to €13 per hour.

A courier earning €4 per hour is making roughly one-third of the standard entry-level wage in Finland.

Furthermore, the cost of living in the capital region is high. A modest one-bedroom apartment in Helsinki often rents for over €800 to €900 per month.

For a courier earning the average of €1,520 reported by researchers, rent alone consumes more than half of their income, leaving very little for food, transport, and other necessities.

While non-EU students are legally capped at working 30 hours per week, the “entrepreneur” model makes tracking these hours difficult, potentially jeopardizing their residence permits if authorities decide to enforce strict income or employment requirements.