New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced support Monday for the Delivery Protection Act, a proposed measure that would require delivery firms including Amazon to hire drivers directly instead of using contractors. Backed by the Teamsters, the bill would prohibit subcontracting of core warehouse and delivery tasks at last-mile sites and mandate direct employment by operators. Mamdani stated that corporations like Amazon shield themselves from accountability through subcontracting systems. He noted that the growth of last-mile centers in New York has coincided with more traffic accidents and worker injuries. He described the legislation as sensible regulation to protect workers, communities, and ensure corporate responsibility for labor practices. The act would require last-mile facilities to obtain licenses from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and set minimum standards for safety, training, and worker protections. Companies would remain accountable for quotas, schedules, and routes that influence conditions and public safety. Since 2017, about 18 major facilities have opened in the city, with 11 added since 2020. Although Amazon does not directly employ drivers at these sites, it exerts considerable control over hiring, schedules, routes, and uniforms through subcontractors. A city report found injury-related crashes rose in at least 78 percent of areas near the facilities after opening. Opponents including Amazon argue the bill would raise consumer delivery costs, slow service, and risk moving hubs out of the city, eliminating local jobs. Amazon said the measure would undermine its commitment to fast and affordable delivery and threaten partner businesses and thousands of positions. Some contractors have also opposed the proposal, warning it could ultimately reduce opportunities for delivery workers and small firms.
