New York City’s delivery workers have scored a major win after years of grassroots campaigning. As of April this year, the city officially enforces a minimum wage of US$21.44 (HK$167) per hour for digital platform couriers. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, gig workers classified as self-employed remain unprotected, earning without guaranteed income as the government continues to stall on labour reform.
New York is now the first U.S. city to mandate a minimum wage for digital platform delivery workers — a fast-growing but long-overlooked workforce. The new lawy, which adjusts for inflation, covers more than 60,000 couriers using platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub.
Years of Struggle, Delays and Court Battles
The fight wasn’t easy. For years, New York’s delivery workers endured low pay, long hours, and no employment benefits. Many paid out of pocket for their bikes, insurance, and repairs – all while working in dangerous conditions and harsh weather. During the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for deliveries soared, yet workers risked their health without fair compensation.
In response, workers formed Los Deliveristas Unidos (LDU) with support from the Worker’s Justice Project (WJP). They protested, built public pressure, and lobbied the city council to pass a 2021 law, requiring the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) to review pay and conditions for delivery workers.
Although the law was set to take effect in July 2023, major platforms sued to block it. In September 2023, the New York Supreme Court sided with the city government. An appeal from the platforms followed but was dismissed by the Appellate Division in November, clearing the way for enforcement.
Before the from, delivery workers earned an average of just US$5.39 per hour (excluding tips) — far below a liveable wage. Since implementation, platforms have paid out over US$700 million in additional wages, according to city data.
“This minimum wage gives struggling workers a fairer income and real economic security,” said Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director of the Worker’s Justice Project and co-founder of LDU. “These workers perform one of the most dangerous jobs in the city, and shoulder all the risks and costs themselves. This policy empowers them to hold employers accountable and sets a historic precedent nationwide.
Canada Also Moves Ahead
Canada’s British Columbia also took action. In June 2023, the province passed a law guaranteeing app-based couriers and ride-hailing drivers a minimum hourly wage of CA$20.88 (HK$115), roughly 20% higher than the standard minimum wage. The regulation, which excludes waiting time, benefits around 11,000 ride-hailing drivers and 35,000 food delivery workers across the province.
Hong Kong Still Standing Still
Hong Kong, by contrast has made little progress on protections for platform workers. Despite years of calls from unions and civil society groups, the government only released a long-delayed study last month, nearly four years after first promising action.
Critics say the report sidesteps the core issue: the legal relationship between platforms and workers. It also fails to reflect the sector’s on-the-ground reality. Trade unions condemned the study for excluding the voices of ethnic minority workers, who form a significant part of the sector’s backbone.
The lack of legal clarity has already caused problems. When Deliveroo exited the Hong Kong market, many couriers struggled to claim severance, notice pay, sick leave or compensation for injuries. Without laws that define the employment relationship, these issues remain unresolved.
As delivery workers overseas gain recognition and protections, Hong Kong’s gig workers are still left without a seat at the table.