Finland's food delivery couriers face a significant reduction in work opportunities as platform Foodora considers a complete exit from the Finnish market. Over two thousand couriers working for Foodora and its main competitor, Wolt, anticipate increased competition for shifts and fewer earning opportunities if the withdrawal proceeds, according to industry estimates.
Liton Hossain, a Bangladeshi courier who works seven days a week for up to ten hours a day, summed up the prevailing mood. "Foodoran lopettaminen olisi hyvin surullista, sillä se tietäisi vähemmän töitä kaikille. Kaikki lähetit ovat tästä samaa mieltä," Hossain said, translating to, 'Foodora stopping would be very sad, because it would mean less work for everyone. All couriers agree on this.' He works for both platforms but says the income is so low it is difficult to live on.
A Precarious Gig Economy Model
The potential departure highlights the fragility of the gig economy model in Finland, where many couriers lack traditional employment contracts. Foodora has initiated change negotiations, with a full withdrawal from Finland being one option. The company has cited ongoing unprofitability as a key reason for the review. For couriers, this corporate decision directly threatens their primary source of income.
Many, like Hossain, transitioned to food delivery after other jobs ended. He previously worked for Posti and as a cleaner. "Ruokalähettityö on ainoa työ, mitä voin saada," he stated, meaning 'Food delivery work is the only job I can get.' His experience is common in the sector, where the work is often taken up by immigrants and students seeking flexible hours, despite the low pay and lack of benefits.
The 'Rental' System and Scarcity of Accounts
Compounding the problem is a widespread practice where couriers work as 'renkins' or substitutes on accounts owned by others. Both Foodora and Wolt have not issued new personal courier accounts to individuals for extended periods, creating a secondary market. Account owners take a varying percentage cut from each delivery fee earned by the renter working on their profile.
Shairaj Ahmed, who works for Wolt as a renter, hopes for change. He explicitly wishes to obtain his own account to keep all his earnings. The account freeze by the major platforms has created an informal and unequal hierarchy among workers, where access to work itself becomes a commodity controlled by a limited number of account holders.
Pinpointing Hopes on a New Entrant
With one major player potentially leaving, couriers are now pinning their hopes on the entry of Uber Eats, which announced plans to start food delivery services in Finland in 2026. The widespread sentiment among couriers interviewed is that a new platform would not only provide more work options but could potentially break the account monopoly by issuing new profiles.
"Olen onnellinen, jos Uber Eats tulee Suomeen," said Hossain, which means 'I would be happy if Uber Eats comes to Finland.' This hope is echoed across the courier community, viewing the international giant as a necessary counterbalance and source of additional gigs. However, the 2026 timeline offers little immediate relief for those facing a work shortage this year.
Ripple Effects Across the Competitive Landscape
The exit would not only hurt Foodora's own couriers. Wolt couriers also fear the consequences, anticipating a flood of experienced drivers from Foodora competing for a finite number of Wolt delivery slots. This would likely drive down the average number of shifts available per courier on the remaining platform.
"Se olisi huono uutinen kaikille. Foodoralla työskentevät kaverini jäisivät työttömiksi," noted one Wolt courier, meaning 'It would be bad news for everyone. My friends working for Foodora would be left unemployed.' The reduced competition between platforms could also lessen pressure on Wolt to improve courier terms or pay, as the dominant market position would be strengthened.
The Human Cost of Platform Decisions
The story unfolding is not merely about corporate strategy but about daily survival for thousands. Couriers describe a relentless work schedule with rare days off, often only taken during illness. The financial precarity is acute, with earnings barely covering living expenses in Helsinki. The potential removal of one key income source pushes an already vulnerable workforce closer to the edge.
The situation underscores a broader debate in Finland and across the EU about the rights and protections afforded to gig economy workers. While offering flexibility, the model places all market and operational risk on the individual courier, who has no safety net when a company decides to withdraw from a market.
Looking Ahead to an Uncertain Market
The coming months will determine Foodora's final decision. For the courier community, the wait is fraught with anxiety. Their livelihoods are contingent on the profitability calculations of foreign-owned platforms. The shared hope for Uber Eats's arrival reflects a desire for more stability through increased choice, yet it also reinforces dependency on the same volatile platform economy model.
The question remains whether the Finnish market can sustain a competitive multi-platform environment that offers couriers a livable income, or if consolidation will lead to fewer opportunities and greater precarity for those delivering meals to our doors.