NYC Mayor Backs Bill to Make Companies Like Amazon Hire Delivery Drivers Directly

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced his support for a proposed bill that would require large corporations, including Amazon, to directly hire their delivery workers. The proposed legislation, known as the Delivery Protection Act, seeks to end the practice of subcontracting, which critics argue allows companies to evade responsibility for dangerous working conditions and street safety issues.

The bill, introduced by Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, aims to place the city's municipal government in charge of overseeing last-mile delivery services. It would shift the responsibility of hiring delivery personnel from subcontractors directly to major corporations. This change is intended to establish new safety and labor protection standards for these workers.

Mamdani stated that corporations like Amazon build multi-billion dollar business models by shielding themselves from liability through abusive subcontracting systems. He noted that the proliferation of last-mile delivery hubs in New York City has coincided with an increase in traffic accidents and workplace injuries. The Delivery Protection Act, supported by labor unions, is presented as a common-sense regulation designed to protect delivery workers and the communities where these facilities operate.

The proposed law seeks to ensure that corporations benefiting from the labor of delivery workers are held accountable for the consequences of their business practices. The legislation comes as the number of last-mile distribution centers in New York City has grown significantly since 2017, with many established since 2020. While major delivery companies may not always directly employ the drivers working at these centers, they often exert considerable control over their work and environments.