This week the debate intensifies over paid sick leave, As the city council considers a bill to require even small businesses to pay their employees who stay home when they have health problems. WNYC's Ilya Marritz has more.

REPORTER: On one side of the debate, the Working Families Party wants 1.8 million mostly low-wage workers to have the same paid sick time benefits that many white collar workers already enjoy.

Opposing them, five chambers of commerce in the five boroughs. They say small businesses can't handle the added costs.

The bill to be discussed in committee on Tuesday would require businesses with 19 or fewer employees to give their full time workers five days paid sick leave, Larger companies would have to offer nine days. Henry Meer, owner of City Hall restaurant in downtown Manhattan, estimates it would cost him 60,000 dollars to cover 45 workers.

A majority of council members are already sponsors of the bill. Mayor Bloomberg hasn't said where he stands. For WNYC, I'm Ilya Marritz.