Amazon Faces New York City's Direct Employment Mandate
New York City's proposed Delivery Protection Act aims to improve worker safety and protections by requiring companies like Amazon to directly employ last-mile delivery workers instead of using subcontractors. The bill, supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, would hold corporations accountable for the working conditions of their employees.
Amazon has invested over $5 million in a New York political campaign to oppose the bill, warning that it could raise costs and risk jobs. Labor leaders see this as a fight against Amazon's business model and an opportunity to set a precedent for other cities.
The proposal comes as US tech giants like Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft are investing nearly $800 billion in AI infrastructure in 2026. Economist Jonathan Millar warns that despite this massive spending, there is no clear productivity boost yet.