Kalayaan Residence Hall and housing for low-income employees were also built around this time.

Initially, the city has allocated $100,000 for that purpose and low-income employees will be given first preference, said Ms. Uebbing.

The new legislation also eliminated the capital gains tax and provided a "wage credit" for businesses that hired qualified low-income employees.

Wal-Mart's health benefits have come under sharp criticism for not being affordable to many low-income employees.

And Mr. Smith said the measure could also be used to help businesses reduce the costs of insurance for low-income employees.

The cards are aimed at the roughly 25 million workers without bank accounts, including many teenagers and low-income or part-time employees.

Mr. Bishop said the alternative to the legislation was to continue to allow low-income employees to be exploited.

Over 7 million workers, especially low-income employees, have benefited.

The percentage of low-income full-time employees without employer health benefits climbed to 69 percent from 23 percent last year, the survey found.

The Government would assist small, new and struggling businesses in this effort and would also provide funds needed to subsidize low-income employees.