Effective immediately, city officials announced Monday that New York City’s minimum pay rate for app-based restaurant delivery workers will increase to at least $19.56 per hour, including tips.
This new hourly wage reflects the 2024 graduated rate of $18.96 and an inflation adjustment of 3.15%, compared to an average of just $5.39 per hour before implementation of this wage law began.
When the rate is fully implemented on April 1, 2025, this workforce will earn at least $19.96 per hour, adjusted for inflation.
Since the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) began enforcing the minimum pay rate in December 2023, apps have paid city delivery drivers $16.3 million more per week, an increase of 165% , for a total of an additional $847.6 million per year.
“The new scheduled wage increase means that we are fulfilling our promises to the more than 60,000 application-based delivery workers in our city and guaranteeing that they will receive compensation, in accordance with the country’s first minimum wage law,” explained María Torres-Springer, Vice Mayor of Housing and Economic Development.
A long journey
In June 2023, Mayor Eric Adams’ administration announced the final minimum wage rule, which took effect on July 12, 2023, following a months-long rulemaking process that included two public hearings and thousands of comments. public.
Major delivery apps sued the City, trying to stop the minimum payment rate from going into effect.
In September, the New York State Supreme Court ruled in favor of the municipality, allowing enforcement of the $17.96 minimum wage to begin.
The tech companies appealed the State Supreme Court ruling, and in late November, the Appellate Division of the First Judicial Department denied this petition, clearing the way for the DCWP to begin enforcing the minimum payment rate.
Protect your rights
In light of this announcement, any delivery drivers who have questions about minimum wage or any of their other employment rights should contact DCWP.
“The minimum pay rate has been enormously successful in increasing the wages of delivery workers and providing them with greater means to support themselves and their families,” recalled Vilda Vera Mayuga, DCWP Commissioner.
Delivery workers can visit DCWP’s Third Party Food Delivery Services page or call 311 and say “delivery worker” to learn more about the minimum pay rate.
Deliverers can also submit questions, or file complaints related to the minimum pay rate or other laws, in multiple languages, online or by calling 311.
“As we celebrate this milestone that formally recognizes the enormous contribution of app delivery workers, we are proud to see that the minimum wage provides real benefits to these essential workers, while maintaining strong results for restaurants,” highlighted Ligia Guallpa, director of the Labor Justice Project.