- Associated Press - Thursday, March 20, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) - Bill de Blasio is signing his first bill into law as New York City mayor.

De Blasio, a Democrat who took office in January, approved new paid sick leave legislation on Thursday.

The measure expands the right of paid sick leave to approximately a half million New Yorkers.

The law mandates that employers whose businesses have five or more employees grant their staff paid sick days.

It expands a previous bill which only applied to businesses that had more than 15 workers.

De Blasio signed the bill during an elaborate ceremony at a Brooklyn ice cream manufacturer.

The mayor said the law is “the first of many steps” his administration will undertake to fight the city’s rising income inequality.

The law goes into effect on April 1.

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