Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor to Convene a Task
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1267
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: PUGH

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