The proposed bill, known as the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act, aims to improve workplace safety for meat and poultry processing workers in Minnesota. It establishes a meatpacking industry worker rights coordinator responsible for enforcing safety regulations, conducting inspections, and submitting annual reports. The bill grants workers the right to refuse dangerous work without fear of discrimination and mandates the creation of a safe worker program to minimize musculoskeletal disorders. It emphasizes training for new employees and ongoing education about ergonomic hazards, while also protecting workers from retaliation for raising safety concerns and imposing penalties on employers who violate these protections.

Additionally, the bill includes enhanced safety measures during public health emergencies, requiring employers to provide training in understandable languages, maintain records of medical visits and ergonomic injuries, and ensure access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitation facilities. It introduces provisions for paid sick time, mandating one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, along with guidelines for accrual and usage. The bill also protects employees from discrimination for refusing unsafe work, allowing the commissioner to order reinstatement and compensatory damages in retaliation cases. To support these initiatives, the bill appropriates funds to the commissioner of labor and industry for implementation.

Statutes affected:
1st Engrossment: 182.654
1st Engrossment: 182.654