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Philadelphia City Council Moves To Exempt Small Firms From Paid Sick Leave Law

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A bill that would force Philadelphia businesses to offer paid sick leave to workers was revised today in City Council -- the revision made to exempt the smallest businesses from the requirement.

But the plan's chances of passage are still very much in doubt.

The original bill requiring earned sick leave covered all Philadelphia businesses, but now Councilman Bill Greenlee has amended it to exclude the small firms.

"This is what we call the 'mom-and-pop' amendment," he told KYW Newsradio.   "If a business has a five or fewer employees on a steady basis, they would be exempt from the bill.  They would not give the required sick leave."

The amendment paves the way for a possible final vote next week.

But businesses in the city continue lobbying City Council in opposition to the measure.

"Our members will keep making the case to Council how the legislation will impact them," said Joe Mahoney of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Supporters of the plan say four out of ten workers in the city have no sick leave, many of whom are in the food services industry.

Reported by KYW City Hall Bureau chief Mike Dunn

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