Couriers want policymakers to protect their independence: Broad study unveils regulation preferences of Wolt courier partners

> More than 20,000 Wolt courier partners shared their opinions in a comprehensive study by Copenhagen Economics.

> 81% want laws to protect their ability to freely choose when to work and which tasks to accept. 

> 91% of couriers feel their opinions and needs are not heard by policymakers, and 92% feel unheard by labor unions.

As the debate around the future of platform work intensifies and new legislation is on its way in EU member states, the preference among local commerce platform Wolt’s courier partners is clear: The vast majority prefer the independence of being independent contractors over being employees. 

Research conducted by Copenhagen Economics shows that 87% of Wolt courier partners want to remain independent contractors and value their autonomy. 81% of couriers want laws to protect this independence, allowing them to freely choose when and how they work.

The study also reveals that Wolt couriers do not feel adequately represented by unions and politicians. Less than 1 out of 10 couriers feel heard by labor unions or policymakers. However, many couriers support policies that balance freedom with protections for self-employed workers, aligning with Wolt’s commitment to advocate for regulations that preserve flexibility while enhancing security.

Wolt courier partners stand firm in their preference for independent work:

• 87% prefer to remain independent contractors over being employed based on their knowledge about the differences.

• 81% want laws to protect their ability to freely choose when to work and which tasks to accept.

• 71% value the freedom of being an independent contractor over the security that would come with being an employee.

• 57% seek better protections and benefits for self-employed workers.

Despite their clear preferences for independence, Wolt courier partners feel overlooked in political discussions: 

• Only 8% of couriers feel heard by labor unions.

• Only 9% feel heard by policymakers. This number is significantly lower than in a previous study by Wolt and Taloustutkimus in 2023. Then, 40% of Wolt couriers in the EU countries said they felt like their opinions were heard by EU policymakers, and 34% felt local policymakers listened to them.

• 49% feel heard by Wolt.

• 81% believe new laws should not force anyone to change their status from independent contractor to employee against their will.

“Wolt couriers have made it clear: they value their independence and want to protect the flexibility that comes with being an independent contractor. To date, their perspective has been largely ignored in the political debate. Wolt advocates for what the courier partners want: flexibility coupled with better protections”, said Tuomas Hurmerinta, Global Head of Operations at Wolt.

Over 260,000 courier partners worldwide serve millions of customers who place orders from 170,000 venues on the Wolt platform. Wolt’s internal data shows that courier partners make deliveries an average of 8 hours per week, with 83% delivering fewer than 20 hours weekly. For most, Wolt is a preferred option for part-time, flexible work.

To learn more about couriers’ perspectives and explore the survey results, visit www.courierinsights.com.