Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan recently signed the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights into law. This legislation marks the first time in history a city in the United States has set enforceable worker standards for domestic employees.
For more than 80 years, domestic workers have been exempted from federal laws that allow workers the legal right to join in union to demand better working conditions. That exclusion has historically led to the exploitation of these workers who are mostly immigrant and mostly women of color. Many domestic employees are covered by federal, state, and municipal laws on minimum wage and overtime but don’t know their rights. They fear retaliation and loss of employment for speaking out. According to the Seattle Domestic Workers Association estimates there are at least 30,000 domestic workers within city limits.
“Seattle continues to lead the way by creating meaningful, economic opportunity for all members of our community. I sat with domestic workers last year and heard the heartbreaking impact caused by the lack of basic worker protections, which negatively affected their livelihood, their families, and their wellbeing,” said Mayor Durkan. “I pledged to make real on the promise of fair wages and rights a reality for our domestic workers, and with the support of so many, we are making critical improvements for our workers.”
Beginning in July 2019, all domestic workers, whether classified as an independent contractor or an employee, are covered by these new standards. The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) is granted enforcement authority and will conduct outreach and provide education to inform workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Aspects of the law include:
- Requiring that domestic workers are paid the Seattle minimum wage.
- Establishing uninterrupted meal and rest periods, including compensation if responsibilities require working without breaks.
- Providing one day (24 hours) off in a seven-day period for workers that reside where they are employed.
- Prohibiting employers from confiscating the documents or other personal effects of their workers.
- The institution of a Domestic Workers Standards Board to establish further standards.
“For far too long, domestic workers have lived and worked in the shadows of our economy. Domestic workers – who are primarily women, immigrants and people of color – and hiring entities have called for more protections. This bill extends basic labor protections to those whose work makes it possible for so many people to go to work, knowing their loved ones and home are cared for,” said Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda.
“Knowing that our work is recognized and valued, knowing that little by little we are starting to leave the shadows, and knowing, more than anything, that we will have rights as basic as a minimum wage makes me proud of the work I do and proud of living in the city of Seattle,” said Silvia Gonzalez, a domestic worker.
The newly instituted Domestic Workers Standards Board will convene in the first quarter of 2019 and will bring together domestic workers, worker organizations, and employers who will make recommendations to the City on effective education and enforcement strategies.
