Algorithmic Management and Empowerment in Platform Labour : A Case Study of Foodora and Wolt In Finland

Abstract

This study interrogates the paradox of empowerment and control within platform-mediated labor, focusing on food delivery riders working for Foodora and Wolt in Finland. Drawing on qualitative data from 42 riders, the study explores perceptions of autonomy, trust, and belonging under conditions of algorithmic control. The findings expose three critical dynamics: conditional autonomy, wherein flexibility is constrained by performance metrics and opaque allocation systems; fragile trust, as empowerment-oriented policies falter under inconsistent enforcement; and intersectional vulnerability, with migrant and caregiving riders disproportionately affected by systemic exclusions. These insights challenge deterministic narratives of technological neutrality and underscore the ethical and political dimensions of platform labor. By situating gig work within a Nordic welfare context, the study reveals regulatory blind spots that persist even in robust labor regimes. It argues that algorithmic management constitutes a form of structural violence; harm embedded in legal and technological architectures rather than overt coercion. It presents policy recommendations including hybrid employment classifications, algorithmic transparency, and enforceable grievance mechanisms. Ultimately, the research advances scholarly and policy debates on digital labor governance, asserting that true empowerment cannot be programmed; it must be negotiated, protected, and institutionalized through frameworks that prioritize justice and dignity.