Victory! DC Domestic Workers Make History!
On December 20, 2022, domestic workers in Washington D.C. made history by winning a domestic workers bill of rights. This makes the 13th bill that the power of domestic workers and employer organizing has won!
Domestic workers in Washington D.C. did not have essential safeguards in their workplaces, leaving them vulnerable to possible mistreatment. This victory formalizes in legislation a widely recognized truth: it is crucial and necessary to incorporate domestic workers into our labor and civil rights laws, ensuring that they are safeguarded from discrimination and harassment and provided with secure and healthy work environments.
Some highlights from this legislation include:
- Guaranteed protections against discrimination at work;
- Includes domestic workers in DC’s occupational health and safety law;
- It requires contracts between domestic workers and hiring ensuring workers know their rights and employers are aware of their responsibilities; and
- Establishes a Domestic Work Outreach and Education Program within the Department of Employment Services (DOES) to help domestic workers know their rights and enforce their rights
Caroline Davis, a house cleaner and former nanny employer testified about the crucial role that domestic workers play in our economy; “The reality is that domestic workers are a key part of what makes our city’s economy work. Without these essential workers many other people – predominantly women – would not be able to participate in the workforce. Domestic workers have always been a critical piece of the labor ecosystem in the United States and it is the darkest parts of our history that explain why domestic workers are not currently afforded the rights and protections of other workers” she said.
11 states, 2 cities , and the District of Columbia have passed domestic workers bills of rights to right these historic wrongs. This is due to the relentless leadership of domestic worker organizing and employer solidarity.
That’s why we are working towards winning a National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, which will establish rights for millions of home care workers, nannies, and house cleaners throughout the country.
Are you an employer of a nanny, house cleaner, or home attendant looking to support the domestic worker rights movement? If so email [email protected] to get involved.
