Instacart is hitting New York City customers with a “regulatory response fee” — prompted by the city's new minimum wage rule for grocery delivery workers. City leaders have sought to protect gig economy workers by establishing rules around pay and tipping. Still, delivery service giants argue the rules drive up costs for consumers, hurt small businesses that see fewer orders placed through the apps and ultimately cost the same delivery workers pay. This matches a rate that the Council set in 2023 for food delivery workers, like those working for DoorDash or Uber Eats. He confirmed the new fee was a direct response to the minimum wage regulations.