Starting in August, Wolt couriers will no longer be able to lease their accounts for others’ use, said Wolt CEO Marianne Vikkula.
Yle reported in January that many Wolt couriers pay hundreds or even 1,000 euros per month for the privilege of using a registered courier’s account, regardless of how much they make from deliveries.
According to Vikkula, the widespread sharing of accounts is one of the reasons behind the ban.
The practice has been prevalent for years, but Yle has learned that leasing prices have increased recently. Meanwhile, many engaged in the practice do not declare their income from it, thus avoiding taxes and other costs.
Home deliveries of alcohol on the way?
Wolt's decision is also influenced by changes in legislation related to alcohol deliveries, which the company aims to begin. The legislation is still under preparation, but will likely require that firms ascertain the identity of anyone delivering alcoholic drinks.
A new EU directive on platform work also requires companies to identify gig workers. Most European platform workers, including taxi drivers, domestic workers and food delivery drivers, are formally self-employed.
Wolt's Chief Operating Officer Joel Järvinen told Yle that Wolt is preparing to comply with the new laws.
According to Vikkula, Wolt aims to distribute new accounts to people who have previously leased accounts. Last month, the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported that some 20,000 people are queued up waiting for Wolt partner accounts.
14 couriers dropped due to "ambiguities"
Wolt recently established a unit focused on combating the grey economy. As a result of its investigations, Wolt has halted cooperation with 14 couriers, Järvinen said.
"There are varying reasons, but one could be that there have been ambiguities related to how the transportation made by the substitute and the compensation received for it," Järvinen said.
"In principle, leasing itself has not been prohibited, but it has had to take place under reasonable conditions," he added.
Wolt began directly hiring couriers at the beginning of this year. Järvinen said that the firm now has around 100 couriers as direct employees.
He said that a third of the couriers have previously had courier accounts, while a third had leased an account, and a third had no previous experience in courier work.
Wolt and the Finnish Service Industry Union PAM are currently negotiating a collective agreement for delivery drivers.
According to Wolt, the two sides' goal is to conclude the negotiations before the Midsummer holiday in late June.
PAM confirms that negotiations have been intensive.
"The content will determine whether and when we reach an agreement," said PAM's Contract Manager Juha Ojala.
According to Ojala, PAM sees Wolt's decision to ban the use of substitutes as a positive step.
Former Wolt courier Mohamed Wasayh explained how Wolt's business account leasing works in this video from January:
