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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

State Senate passes employment protection measure for women

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The Minnesota Senate has passed a package of workplace protections for women.

Lawmakers voted 51-14 today for the bill, which is known as the Women's Economic Security Act.

Under the bill, companies with government contracts would have to certify that they pay men and women equally. Employers would no longer be able to prevent workers from disclosing their wages, family leave time would be expanded, and pregnant and nursing employees would get more accommodations.

The measure also establishes grant programs to assist women in nontraditional jobs and those who own businesses. There’s also a feasibility study for a state retirement savings plan. The total cost of the bill is $2.7 million.

Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said the bill is a comprehensive approach to narrowing the pay gap.

“I think this is a good step,” Pappas said. “We probably can never do enough as part of government. A lot of it is the culture and kind of corporate America just agreeing that they have to treat their women employees equally to their male employees, and provide the kind of accommodations that keep women in the workforce.”

All of the no votes came from Republicans, some of whom questioned the need for the bill.

Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, said he thinks Minnesota is already a good place to work for men and women.

“I will not stand here and vote for a bill that promotes one gender over another, Hall said. “If you work hard, if you compete better than others, you will find greater opportunities, whether you’re a man or a woman.”

The House passed a similar version of the bill earlier this month, but a conference committee will need to work out some differences.

Gov. Mark Dayton has said he supports the bill.