Last month, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani backed the “Delivery Protection Act,” which would require companies such as Amazon to directly employ workers who do deliveries for them through outside companies that hire gig workers. It would also subject local fulfillment facilities, such as Amazon warehouses, to a new licensing regime, meaning that they could operate only if they comply with certain employment standards, among other things. While this may sound beneficial to workers on paper, the truth is that the bill would deprive self-employed individuals of opportunities and violate the spirit of entrepreneurship.

In a free market, transactions are voluntary and based on mutual benefit. The only reason someone would choose to work as an independent contractor or for a third-party provider is that they deem it beneficial. Many workers actually prefer to be self-employed, whether it be for greater flexibility, more time with family, or potentially better pay. When governments force specific terms of employment on businesses, they prevent individuals and businesses from negotiating the terms that best suit their circumstances.