HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston city councilmembers passed an ordinance on Wednesday requiring companies in Houston seeking new tax breaks to offer higher pay, better safety, and more benefits to workers.

The City of Houston has used property tax abatements to attract investment, encourage business investment, and create jobs, but enforcement of the rules for receiving them has sometimes been questioned.

"For too long, when we gave out tax abatements in the City of Houston, we encouraged but not required companies to meet certain wages and provide certain benefits. Now, that has changed, and it is law in the City of Houston that if you are going to get a tax abatement, then you have to provide prevailing wages or comparable wages to municipal workers. You have to provide health insurance. You must provide apprenticeship programs," Houston City Councilmember Alejandra Salinas said.