"Anyone 18 or Older Is OK"...Why New York City Hiked Snow Removal Pay to 45 Dollars an Hour

“Hourly wage raised to 30 dollars due to heavy snowfall”
Up to 45 dollars for overtime

In the wake of the heavy snowstorm that hit the northeastern United States, New York City has begun urgently recruiting snow removal workers. The pay is up to 45 dollars per hour (about 65,000 won).

According to foreign media outlets such as the New York Times (NYT) and Secret NYC on the 24th (local time), the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) launched an emergency recruitment drive for snow removal workers after a snowstorm of around 60 centimeters was forecast. New York City's paid snow removal program operates by contacting pre-registered residents when a blizzard or other emergency occurs and dispatching them to the field. They are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks, bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and other public facilities to ensure safety and accessibility.

On the 23rd (local time) in New York, United States, a man is clearing snow amid heavy snowfall. Photo by AP/Yonhap News

Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City, said at a recent press conference, "Considering the scale of this snowstorm, we have raised the hourly wage to 30 dollars," adding, "You can visit the nearest DSNY garage from 9 a.m., and you must bring two forms of identification so that we can process your payment." New York City has also deployed 33 vans and 2 buses to quickly move snow removal crews to the areas where they are needed.

The base hourly wage for existing snow removal workers was 19.14 dollars (about 27,000 won), and those who worked more than 40 hours per week were paid 28.71 dollars (about 41,000 won) per hour. However, as the scale of the snowstorm increased, the base hourly wage for emergency snow removal workers was raised to 30 dollars (about 40,300 won), and the overtime rate was increased to 45 dollars.

Emergency snow removal workers are hired on a daily basis as needed. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and legally eligible to work in the United States. They must also be physically capable of performing high-intensity manual labor outdoors during the winter.

Under New York City regulations, DSNY is responsible for clearing snow from public infrastructure, but building owners are required to clear the adjacent sidewalks themselves within a specified time frame. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to 250 dollars (about 360,000 won).

Meanwhile, starting on the afternoon of the 22nd, a powerful snowstorm accompanied by strong winds and heavy snowfall battered coastal cities in the northeastern United States. As a result, numerous flights were canceled at major airports in and around New York and Boston, disrupting operations. Some local governments within the snowstorm's impact zone declared a state of emergency and ordered all schools closed on the 23rd as part of their response.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.