Metro

Pols’ bill tailor-maid to protect hotel gals

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ALBANY — Disgraced international financier Dominique Strauss-Kahn could soon become the poster boy for a statewide effort to protect hotel housekeepers.

A bill introduced by two state lawmakers yesterday would require hotels and motels across the state to train staffers on how to report sexual harassment by guests, and to distribute a “Know Your Rights” pamphlet to housekeepers and other workers.

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) and Sen. Elizabeth Little (R-Glens Falls), who are co-sponsoring the bill, hope the measures, including the brochure, could help save New York’s hotel workers from a seeming epidemic of lecherous guests.

“The prevalence of such sexual harassment is much greater than anyone thought,” Rosenthal said. “Recent events have demonstrated that there is a clear need for sexual harassment and prevention education and training for hotel employees.”

The bill comes on the heels of Strauss-Kahn’s alleged sexual assault of a housekeeper in Midtown’s Sofitel hotel, which was quickly followed by the arrest of Egyptian businessman Mahmoud Abdel-Salam Omar for allegedly molesting a maid at The Pierre hotel on Fifth Avenue.

In Omar’s case, the accuser reportedly notified supervisors immediately after the incident, but was told to wait until the next day to talk to security staff.

The bill would also mandate that hoteliers establish a bill of rights for employees and ban retaliation against those who come forward to report abuse.

The sponsors say the number of maids and housekeepers who have revealed their own encounters with sleazy guests since Strauss-Kahn’s arrest last month on attempted-rape charges proves the need for greater protection.

“The 30,000 members of the Hotel Trades Council unfortunately see inappropriate behavior all too often,” union president Peter Ward said. “Often, policies don’t exist or employees and management don’t know the right steps to take.”

Hotels have already made some changes since the reported incidents. The Sofitel where Strauss-Kahn stayed recently allowed its maids to wear pants.

The new legislation would direct the Department of Health to draw up the brochure and draft guidelines for minimal sexual-harassment training.

It would require hoteliers to provide the training to all employees within two months of their hiring and every two years thereafter. It would apply to hotels, motels and bungalow colonies, but not “small family-owned and -operated” hotels such as bed-and-breakfasts.

“It’s important that we have sensible policies in place to protect those in the workplace [by] raising awareness, providing appropriate training and ensuring if something happens, the right steps are taken,” Little said.

brendan.scott@nypost.com