The City Council is moving to protect grocery store workers in cases where store ownership changes hands. 

Lawmakers passed legislation to force new store owners to retain the current employees for 90 days after taking over a business.

Seven members voted against the bill, some of which said the council was inappropriately wading into private industry.

But others argue they're trying to save jobs.

"Workers at these stores currently have no job protections and could find themselves in a position of being unemployed with no notice or warning," said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito.

"But with this bill we interjecting our local government in a way that we should not be doing," said Councilman Daniel Garodnick. "We are going too far and without a clear rationale that can be more broadly complied."

Under the plan, employees must be evaluated after 90 days in the hope the new owner offers them permanent employment.

The Bill de Blasio administration says it's unsure if the mayor will sign the bill.