New York City is in the thick of a landmark policy battle over last-mile delivery regulation. The city administration has officially endorsed a City Council bill that would require e-commerce companies to directly hire and pay delivery workers, drawing fierce opposition from an Amazon-backed coalition.
The bill would force companies to directly employ delivery workers, keep driver safety records, and provide training on pedestrian safety. It follows a city comptroller report that found a 10% increase in crashes around 14 out of 18 new last-mile delivery facilities.
Amazon argues the act would prohibit its agreements with more than 40 local small businesses known as Delivery Service Partners, who provide jobs to thousands of New Yorkers, and could force the company to consider relocating delivery operations outside the city. The outcome could set a precedent for how cities around the world regulate the rapidly expanding last-mile sector.