Thousands of Philadelphians with criminal records will get additional protections when job hunting under newly passed amendments to the city's fair hiring law.

The legislation, introduced by Councilmember Rue Landau (D-At-Large), expands the purview of the existing safeguards and changes the terms employers can use to reject a candidate. Current protections prevent interviewers from asking about criminal history in the early stages of the hiring process. MORE: New Jersey PBS to shut down next summer due to funding cuts

"We cannot afford to leave talent on the sidelines when our city needs every worker to power our economy," Landau said during Thursday's meeting.

The legislation was approved 13-0, with Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Nicolas O'Rourke and

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