New York City has a long tradition of welcoming and supporting immigrants and led the nation in implementing the nation’s first minimum wage rate last year for food delivery workers, many of whom are from immigration. The wage increase was a welcome moment for thousands of workers, but now it’s time for the city to finish the job.
The city council must extend this benefit to everyone who makes up the backbone of our city’s economy and ensure that the rules for all delivery workers actually work for them. These workers deserve fairness and dignity for their work, and the city has an opportunity to correct a persistent inequity in its regulations.
Every day, those who walk through our doors tell us how important it is for immigrant families to have the support of our city’s leaders. Since we founded the Muslim Community Network in 2003 as a haven for Muslim New Yorkers, our organization has grown to serve and advocate for immigrant communities across the city.
For many immigrant New Yorkers – representing every borough of the city – delivery work offers an uncomplicated way to make ends meet. It’s not always easy, but these workers work hard to earn an honest living, ensuring New Yorkers can easily order everything from meals to groceries to household essentials.
These jobs are essential to members of our community to help them support their families and navigate a new country. For many, it’s the first step toward the American dream.
However, when the city took such a bold step in raising wages for only restaurant delivery workers, it did so in a way that prevented all delivery workers from receiving the same pay for the same work.
Under current law, very similar apps are treated very differently, even if the workers using them make the same types of deliveries from the same locations. This inconsistency has created considerable frustration and confusion among many workers who are simply trying to make ends meet. Worse, it has undermined the opportunities these jobs provide, forcing workers to deal with arbitrary disparities that limit their ability to earn a fair wage.
Fortunately, there is an opportunity to make changes and level the playing field for all third-party delivery providers. New bills in the Council – Int 1133-2024 and Int 1135-2024 – would extend wage rates and worker protections to all workers, taking New York City another step toward protecting workers livelihoods of some of our hardest workers and ensuring fairness. the dignity and economic stability of our immigrant communities.
At the time the minimum wage rate took effect, it was unclear why delivering a meal from a restaurant would apply, but food from a grocery store did not receive the same considerations. Delivering groceries presents the same dynamic for a delivery person: there is no reason to treat them any differently.
Today, with the changes we’ve seen in how platforms operate, inconsistencies have created a situation where workers don’t know what to expect, making it even more difficult for them to determine what’s right for them. best.
The Council must vote to pass these bills and support the hard-working delivery workers fighting to achieve the American dream in the city they helped build. These immigrants work tirelessly and contribute to the economy that makes New York the city that never sleeps. It is only right that they be treated equally under the law for equal work.
Without meaningful changes, we risk further marginalizing the communities that have always been at the heart of New York’s success.
As a leader at MCN, where we help newly arrived New Yorkers find their place every day, I know how difficult it is to forge your own path in a new place. They understand that nothing is easy or free, but that hard work must be accompanied by the opportunity to build a better future.
Policymakers are right to take a closer look at the real impact of these wage rules, particularly on immigrant communities who disproportionately bear the burden of flawed policies.
The diversity and resilience of our immigrant communities make New York great. Let’s show all delivery people that we value their contributions by ensuring that all delivery people, regardless of the app they use, receive fair compensation for their essential service.
The Council must vote to pass these bills and demonstrate that our city values equity, opportunity and the people who make it thrive.
Yatabarry is the executive director of the Muslim Community Network.
