The law is the first of its kind in the nation and provides new workplace protections to over 750,000 Philadelphia workers.
PHILADELPHIA – Today, Mayor Parker signed new pro-worker legislation into law. Introduced by Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large), the POWER (Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights) Act establishes the necessary legal tools for Philadelphia’s Department of Labor to enforce local labor laws, such as the wage theft and paid sick leave ordinances, and to hold abusive employers accountable for retaliating against workers who assert their rights.
“For far too long, the cards have been stacked against domestic workers, restaurant workers, and temp workers,” said Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large), Minority Leader of City Council. “Today, Philly is changing the game. As federal labor enforcement grinds to a halt, stripping workers of critical protections, Philly is stepping up and showing the country what it looks like to strengthen workers’ rights locally.”
“It is our vital responsibility to address workplace disparity, and work towards equitable compensation for essential workers like domestic workers,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “City Council and I hope and believe that together we can continue to uplift the voices of some of our city’s hardest workers while making meaningful change. We look forward to working with the business community and all stakeholders through the process as we implement this legislation.”
The POWER Act provides sweeping protections for all workers in Philadelphia and is the first legislation of its kind in the nation. It prevents retaliation against workers who assert their rights, establishing stronger legal safeguards for workers and steeper financial penalties for employers who break the law. It also allows workers to receive direct financial support when employers violate their rights; previously all financial penalties went solely to the City.
The POWER Act strengthens the City’s Department of Labor (DoL), enabling more thorough and proactive workplace investigations and allowing the DoL to suspend the business licenses of bad actor employers. The law also mandates more public reporting, including a “Bad Actors Database” that lists employers with 3 or more violations, and establishes consistent timelines across multiple labor laws.
For immigrant workers, the POWER Act inscribes the DoL’s process for certifying immigration protections for workers facing abuse or other violations. For tipped workers, the legislation raises the hourly rate for paid sick leave, so that workers don’t face a financial penalty for using their paid sick time.
“The POWER Act is a powerful piece of legislation that solidifies this city’s commitment to fighting for and protecting all workers in Philadelphia. By passing and signing this legislation, our city has leveled up its protection for all workers by empowering the Office of Worker Protection to hold bad actors accountable when they violate labor law and provides support and protections for our city’s most vulnerable and exploited workers,” said Daniel P. Bauder, President, Philadelphia AFL-CIO. “We are thankful to Minority Leader Kendra Brooks and our union brother, Councilmember Harrity, for their tireless efforts, and to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker for hosting us today and signing this bill into law, once again showing her commitment to working people in Philadelphia.”
“This is one of the most comprehensive laws in the country to protect domestic workers from retaliation,” said Abena Ruiz, a Professional Nanny & Leader of the National Domestic Workers Alliance Pennsylvania Chapter. “It will hold employers truly accountable when they violate our labor laws.”
In addition to the POWER Act, advocates are calling for an additional $3.5M in funding for the Department of Labor, responsible for enforcing Philadelphia labor laws. The Office of Worker Protections, housed within the City’s Department of Labor, serves over 750,000 workers but lacks the capacity to effectively enforce labor laws, prevent retaliation against workers, and recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen wages. Philadelphia has one of the worst ratios of worker protection staff per population across cities in the US. Cities like Denver and Seattle, despite being half the size of Philadelphia, have three times as many full time staff dedicated to worker protections.
The POWER Act passed out of City Council with unanimous support on May 8th. The law went into effect immediately after it was signed by Mayor Parker.
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