BILL TO KEEP CALL CENTER JOBS IN MAINE MOVES FORWARD

AUGUSTA – In a party-line vote of 20-15, the Senate approved a measure addressing the off-shoring of Maine call center jobs.

“This bill would encourage companies with call centers to make Maine workers their top priority too,” said Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash, who is also the sponsor of the  measure.  “As lawmakers we are here to grow our state’s economy and ensure jobs for Maine people–not workers overseas. It seems like a no-brainer that Maine tax breaks should not be used to encourage companies to move offshore and hire foreign workers.”

The bill would require any employer with more than 50 employees to notify the Commissioner of Labor 60 days before relocating 30% or more of call center’s operations overseas.

Senator Jackson added, “I’m proud that today, more than half of us voted on the side of Maine workers.”

Any employer who has relocated 30% or more of a call center’s operations overseas would be placed on a list maintained by the commissioner and would be prevented from receiving direct or indirect state grants, loans, or tax benefits for two years, except in circumstances where those companies would suffer substantial loss of workers or environmental harm without that assistance.

The bill also ensures that state government contractors only use Maine-based call centers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 20,000 call center workers in Maine.

The bill, LD 1710 “An Act to Retain Call Centers in Maine,”  will face further votes in the House.

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