# Labor and Employment (GLE)

## Title 3. Employment Standards and Conditions

### Subtitle 17. Maryland Essential Workers' Protection Act

#### Section 3-1701

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "Emergency" means a catastrophic health emergency, as defined under Sec. 14-3A-01 of the Public Safety Article, that is the subject of an executive proclamation under Sec. 14-3A-02 of the Public Safety Article and is related to a communicable disease.

(c)

  (1) "Essential employer" means a person that employs an essential worker.

  (2) "Essential employer" includes a unit of State or local government.

(d) "Essential worker" means an individual who:

  (1) performs a duty or work responsibility during an emergency that cannot be performed remotely or is required to be completed at the work site; and

  (2) provides services that the essential employer determines to be essential or critical to its operations.

---

Md. Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)