Filipina care giver offers testimony on the abuse & lack of protections for domestic workers at California State Capitol Hearing
“Is $50 a day enough pay for me? I think the assemblyman can agree, it’s not.”
Because her compensation is so low, Emiliana Acopia continues to work multiple jobs to support her family here in the U.S. and the Philippines earning less than $50 a day to provide live-in care giving and domestic work for a family of 4 in San Leandro. At 77 years old, she still cannot afford to retire.
Domestic workers labor behind closed doors, and are vulnerable to widespread abuses. A growing movement of domestic workers is seeking protections under state, national and international labor laws. Just last week (6/2/10) the New York State Senate passed a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights that would require paid holidays, vacation and sick days, as well as overtime wages for domestic workers. The bill would also require 14 days notice (or termination pay) before firing a domestic worker. Read the New York Times full text here.
California domestic workers and their advocates hope to introduce a similar bill in the California State Legislature in 2011. This year, Assembly members V. Manuel Perez and Tom Ammiano have co-authored a resolution in support of California domestic workers ACR 163, CA Domestic Worker Rights Resolution.
For California to experience a similar victory, the first step came last week (6/9/2010) in Sacramento. Assembly members, advocates, and domestic workers gathered for the Assembly Labor Committee’s Informational Hearing on working conditions for California Domestic Workers. Many personal experiences and testimonies were shared, including Emiliana’s video testimony. In the coming weeks, the Coalition will be collecting letters of support addressed to the Committee on Labor and Employment Chair, Andre Swanson. (see sample text below) Please submit your letter of support by Friday, June 18 to Assemblymember.Swanson [at] assembly.ca.gov and copy us as well.
Filipino Advocates for Justice is a member of the National Domestic Worker Alliance & the California Domestic Worker Coalition, along with CHIRLA, Women’s Collective of La Raza Centro Legal, POWER, Graton Day Labor Program, Caring Hands Worker Association, Mujeres Unidas y Activas, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. Learn more about the campaign at: http://www.nationaldomesticworkeralliance.org
Sample Letter
[Date Here]
Honorable Assemblyman Sandré Swanson
Chair, Committee on Labor and Employment
LOB, Room 155
Sacramento, CA 95814
Assemblymember.Swanson [at] assembly.ca.gov
RE: SUPPORT for ACR 163 (V.M. Pérez, Ammiano) Domestic Workers Rights
Dear Chairman Swanson,
[YOUR ORG HERE] is pleased to support ACR 163 by Assemblymen V. Manuel Pérez and Tom Ammiano, which declares domestic workers are entitled to industry-specific protections and labor standards that eliminate discriminatory provisions in labor laws and guarantee basic workplace rights.
California’s domestic workers – comprised of housekeepers, nannies and caregivers for children, work in private households to care for the health, safety and well-being of the most important aspects of Californians’ lives, their families and homes. Domestic workers play a critical role in California’s economy by working to ensure the health and prosperity of California families and freeing others to participate in the workforce. The vast majority of domestic workers are women of color and immigrants who, because of race and sex discrimination and fear of deportation, are particularly vulnerable to unlawful employment practices and abuses.
Domestic workers are excluded from the most basic protections afforded the rest of the labor force, including the right to fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, workers’ compensation, protection from discriminatory and abusive treatment and the right to engage in collective bargaining. Domestic workers often labor under harsh conditions, work long hours for low wages, and face termination without notice or severance pay. In the worst cases domestic workers are stripped of their privacy and dignity due to verbal and physical abuse or sexually assault.
In closing [YOUR ORG HERE] urges your support of ACR 163, an important labor and workforce protection resolution.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Organization]