NYC Mayor Backs Delivery Protection Act for Direct Employment

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday, August 10, 2026, publicly endorsed the Delivery Protection Act, a proposed city law that would require major delivery companies to directly employ thousands of drivers and warehouse workers instead of relying on independent contractors. The legislation, sponsored by Queens Council Member Tiffany Cabán, aims to reshape the city's last-mile delivery industry by mandating new licensing, safety standards, and employment practices for large facilities.

The bill would require operators of last-mile warehouses, where parcels are sorted for final delivery, to obtain licenses from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. A central provision would bar companies from subcontracting core warehouse and delivery services, requiring those workers to be directly employed by the facility operator after a phase-in period. The direct-employment requirement would begin 12 months after enactment, with operators first required to offer jobs to displaced contract workers.

In a statement, Mamdani criticized the current subcontracting model, saying corporations "build billion-dollar business models by insulating themselves from accountability." He...