SEPT. 9, 2020.....Groups representing workers on Wednesday asked state labor officials to strengthen COVID-19 protections for employees of various types of businesses.

The Department of Labor Standards held a hearing -- the first of two -- on a set of emergency regulations setting COVID-19 safety standards. Department director Michael Flanagan said the standards mirror the workplace safety measures put into place by Gov. Charlie Baker as part of the protocols required for brick-and-mortar operations to reopen.