WASHINGTON - The US Senate on Thursday voted to confirm Eugene Scalia to be the country's next labor secretary.

The vote was 53 to 44.

Scalia, a lawyer who has represented multiple large companies, is to succeed Alexander Acosta, who resigned in July amid criticism of his handling of a sex-trafficking case against billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when he was a federal prosecutor.

Democrats and advocacy groups have voiced their objections against Scalia for the post, saying that the 56-year-old has spent his career undermining worker protections.

Scalia, defending himself, said during his confirmation hearing earlier this month that he has advocated for workers.

US President Donald Trump nominated Scalia, son of late US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, to be his labor secretary in July.

The Department of Labor is responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, reemployment services, and some economic statistics.