Kamala Harris To Introduce Domestic Workers Bill Of Rights

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who is running for president, wants better workplace protections for domestic workers, who often work behind closed doors and face abuse and exploitation.

On Monday, Harris and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) announced the “Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act,” which they plan to introduce in the Senate and House.

The legislation would provide protection at the federal level to the over 2 million domestic workers in the U.S., including nannies, house cleaners and home care workers. Domestic workers have historically been excluded from basic labor protections under federal and state laws. Without such protections, many workers have been forced to tolerate low pay and abuse.

The bill ensures rights including overtime pay, paid sick days, meal and rest breaks, harassment and discrimination protections, pay for shifts that are canceled last-minute, and more.

The lawmakers called it a “first-ever” bill at the national level to provide “concrete protections for the entire care sector,” according to a news release.