NYC Delivery Workers Can Choose Routes As New Law Takes Effect

NEW YORK CITY — App delivery workers will have more freedom to chose where they go and which orders they accept when a new city law kicks in Friday, the Mayor's office announced.

The city delivered new protections for workers at third-party apps — such as Seamless and GrubHub — with a suite of bills approved by City Council in September 2021.

Laws that allow workers to decide how far they'll travel and what route they take will go into effect on Friday.

“Delivery workers brave difficult conditions year-round, often for meager pay, simply to do their jobs," Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday. "These hard-won protections are critically important to advancing worker justice."

More than 65,000 delivery workers will be affected by the law, which also mandates they receive free insulated bags after six deliveries, according to the Mayor's office.

Under the new laws, third-party apps must allow food delivery workers to set limits on which bridges or tunnels they are unwilling to use, disclose pay and gratuities they'll earn and offer payment options free of charge.

“Delivery workers are an integral part of New York City’s economy, and their labor deserves recognition,” said Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga.

“With these new worker protection laws, we are taking a step towards advancing working conditions for everyone across the city and supporting our essential workers who keep this city running."