Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor to Convene a Task Force to Examine and Study Issues Relating to the Gap Between the Economic Output and Wages of Workers in the State

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1267
H.P. 842 House of Representatives, March 25, 2025
Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor to Convene a Task
Force to Examine and Study Issues Relating to the Gap Between the
Economic Output and Wages of Workers in the State
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PUGH of Portland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DHALAC of South Portland, HENDERSON of Rumford,
MACIAS of Topsham, ROEDER of Bangor, SUPICA of Bangor, Senator: TIPPING of
Penobscot.

Page 1 - 132LR2338(01)
1Sec. 1. Department of Labor to convene task force. Resolved: That the
2 Department of Labor shall convene a task force, referred to in this resolve as "the task
3 force," to examine and study the gap between the economic output of workers in the State
4 and the wages those workers receive in return. Membership in the task force must be
5 composed of a representative of the Department of Labor; 2 owners of businesses with at
6 least 50 employees that operate in the State in different industry sectors; and a
7 representative from each of the following:
8 1. The Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989;
9 2. The Maine AFL-CIO;
10 3. The Maine Center for Economic Policy;
11 4. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce;
12 5. The Cooperative Maine Business Alliance;
13 6. The Maine Development Foundation;
14 7. The Maine Association of Nonprofits; and
15 8. The National Federation of Independent Business.
16Sec. 2. Task force study. Resolved: That the task force, with the assistance of
17 the Department of Labor, shall examine and study the gap between the economic output of
18 workers in the State and the wages those workers receive in return, including a specific
19 focus on the economic output and wages per job in order to determine the difference
20 between these metrics for the average worker and what can be done to ensure that
21 compensation more accurately reflects economic output.
22 As part of its study, the task force shall review the laws and policies of other states and
23 the Federal Government and any reports or analyses regarding the effectiveness of laws
24 and policies in other jurisdictions. The study must also include an examination of the
25 following issues and any other issues the department or a member of the task force
26 determines appropriate:
27 1. The adequacy of current laws and standards that ensure that wages rise in relation
28 to increases in economic output;
29 2. The need for, or benefit of, requiring the Department of Labor to publish annual
30 statistics that measure the relationship between economic output per job and average wage;
31 3. The need for, or benefit of, requiring that employers operating in the State regularly
32 disclose to each employee the monetary value generated by that employee's labor;
33 4. The need for, or benefit of, developing a set of criteria to determine which businesses
34 will be subject to proposed reporting requirements; and
35 5. The feasibility of creating an enforceable law governing economic output and
36 wages.
37Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 3, 2025, the Department
38 of Labor shall submit a report that includes the findings and recommendations of the task
39 force, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor. The joint
40 standing committee may report out legislation based on the subject matter of the report to
41 the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
Page 2 - 132LR2338(01)
1SUMMARY
2 This resolve directs the Department of Labor to convene a task force to examine and
3 study the gap between the economic output of workers in the State and the wages those
4 workers receive in return and report on the task force's findings to the Joint Standing
5 Committee on Labor by December 3, 2025. The joint standing committee is authorized to
6 report out legislation based on the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular
7 Session of the 132nd Legislature.
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