“We have to fight” – Bill calls for increased protections for essential workers

MARYLAND – In Maryland, lawmakers are pushing for more protection for workers during a state of emergency.

The Maryland Essential Workers Protections Act would require that there are standards and procedures that aim to protect essential workers during pandemics. Under the act when a state of emergency is called employers would have to provide a safe and clean workspace as well as give essential workers hazard pay, free testing, among other things.

“We have to fight to get simple things and I don’t think anyone on this call asked for anything that’s not a simple basic standard. PPE, hazard pay,” said 1199 SEIU Political Director Riccara Jones.

“We are not out of the hazard,” said Jones, “Workers should still be receiving their hazard pay, access to testing.”

47 ABC reached out to Delegate Chris Adams about the legislation and he said the following: “The General Assembly should make every effort to do no harm to the business community at large. We need to make sure that those citizens who are employed keep those jobs and that those citizens who are currently unemployed find work sooner rather than later. That should be the litmus test for any legislation passed during the unprecedented political climate that we live in today.”

47ABC also reached out to Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes about the legislation and she said the following: “At face value, I am supportive of the protections for workers, as I have heard from AFSCME and other large workforce issues. I am looking forward to what the fiscal notes look like and speaking to the business community on what their stance is too.”

Click here for more information about the Maryland Essential Workers Protections Act.