PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council on Monday approved an ordinance requiring employers in the city to provide paid sick leave to employees in the face of opposition from business owners who threatened a lawsuit over the legislation.

Council members and advocacy groups heralded the bill, which was passed 7-1, as a measure that will keep 50,000 workers who lack paid sick leave from choosing between working while ill and losing a day’s pay.

Under the legislation, employers with at least 15 workers are required to offer as many as five paid sick days per year to each worker.