The Supreme Court will decide if food couriers for apps like Wolt and Foodora are employees or self-employed contractors. On May 13, 2026, the Supreme Court's appeals committee decided that the case of three Wolt couriers should be heard. The answer could mean a lot for thousands of food couriers in Norway.

What is the case about?

Three food couriers sued Wolt because they believed they were employees, not self-employed. The difference is significant. An employee has rights under the Working Environment Act: permanent employment, protection against dismissal, sick leave and holiday pay. A self-employed contractor works on their own account and has few such rights.

The case has gone through several levels of courts with different outcomes:

  • Oslo District Court, April 2025: the couriers won. The court believed they were employees.
  • Borgarting Court of Appeal, February 2026: the couriers lost. The court believed they were self-employed contractors.
  • Supreme Court, from May 13, 2026: takes the case up for new proceedings. No date has been set for when the case will be heard.

Why is this important for immigrants?

Many food couriers in Norway are immigrants and students. The job is easy to start, but the rights are unclear. If you are an employee, you are entitled to pay during illness, holiday pay and a safety net if you become ill or lose your job. If you are self-employed, you must arrange everything yourself, and you are in a weaker position.

The decision from the Supreme Court will serve as a precedent for the entire industry. The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the trade unions are following the case closely, because it concerns a principle that applies to much more than food couriers: where the boundary lies between employee and self-employed in the digital economy.

What are Wolt and Foodora doing now?

The companies have different models. Foodora lets couriers choose between being employed with a collective agreement or self-employed with more flexible working hours, but without the same protection. Wolt has used self-employed couriers, but has announced that it will hire more permanently. Regardless of the outcome in the Supreme Court, many couriers will continue to work under different conditions going forward.

What should you do if you are a food courier?

If you work as a food courier, you should know what agreement you have. Check if you are registered as an employee or as self-employed. The rules are explained in the guide on worker rights in Norway and in the article on being a freelancer or having a sole proprietorship.

If you are unsure, a trade union can help you. On SamfunnPrep you can read more about trade unions and the Norwegian labour model. A trade union can give advice on your contract and your rights.

The case in the Supreme Court has not yet been decided. SamfunnPrep will update this article when a judgment is issued.