New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga have announced the inaugural annual rise in the minimum wage for app-based restaurant delivery workers. The minimum wage will escalate to $19.56 per hour before tips, with annual adjustments for inflation to follow.
“Our delivery workers have consistently delivered for us — and today the city is delivering for them,” said Adams. “I was raised by a working mother who supported my five siblings and me, and there are thousands of delivery workers doing the same to support themselves and their families. And while wages have not kept up with the rising cost of living, since the new pay rate has been enforced, delivery workers have already seen a 165 percent increase in their pay per week. This is what it looks like to stand with working-class New Yorkers and build a fairer economy.”
The minimum wage rate will be phased in gradually until April 1, 2025, with an inflation adjustment of 3.15 percent. Prior to enforcement by the DCWP, the average wage for app-based restaurant delivery workers stood at around $5.39. With the new regulations in effect, the apps have collectively paid delivery workers an additional $16.3 million per week across the workforce.
“The minimum pay rate has been enormously successful in raising wages for our city’s delivery workers and providing them greater means to support themselves and their families,” said Mayuga. “Any delivery worker with questions about the minimum pay rate, or any of their other worker rights, should reach out to us.
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The DCWP is ensuring compliance from Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub by scrutinizing monthly reports. According to the Mayor’s Office, neither consumers nor restaurants have suffered negative impacts from the increase in minimum wage.
The Adams administration announced in June 2023 the final minimum pay rule for app delivery workers, which became active on July 12, 2023. In July, the apps sued New York City to attempt to stop the minimum pay rate from taking effect, but the New York State Supreme Court ruled in the city’s favor.
“Los Deliveristas Unidos and the Workers Justice Project faced enormous obstacles along the road to winning the guaranteed minimum wage last year, including intense opposition from big app companies,” said Vinny Alvarez, president, New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “But they persevered, securing an additional $16.3 million a week across their essential workforce, and with today’s announcement they’ve once again helped set a new standard for delivery workers in this city, this state, and across the nation. We thank Mayor Adams and DCWP for their efforts in ensuring that the minimum pay rate is protected and enforced across our city,”
Delivery workers have the option to explore DCWP’s Third-Party Food Delivery Services page or dial 311 and mention “delivery worker” for further information regarding the minimum wage. Additionally, they can inquire or lodge grievances concerning minimum wage standards or other regulations pertinent to delivery workers in various languages online or by reaching out to 311.
“With the full range of flavors New York City has to offer at their fingertips, New Yorkers get instantaneous room service at all hours — and people who make that happen have high-risk, high-difficulty jobs. With this pay raise, we acknowledge their contributions to our city and continue to make their working life more manageable,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “With thanks to DCWP, we look forward to continuing this progress, using data to make their workplaces — the streets — some of the safest in the nation for delivery.”
