New York ‘Nanny Bill’ Seeks to Protect Domestic Workers
The New York State Senate passed a bill this week that could affect the lives of more than 200,000 domestic workers—many of whom have long gone without the basic workplace guarantees that many employees take for granted.
If signed, the bill, which now resides in the hands of Gov. David Paterson, could become the first law in the nation to provide protection for domestic workers, reports the New York Times.
Despite Republican opposition, the new nanny legislation would require paid holidays, sick days and vacation days for domestic workers, as well as overtime wages and protection under discrimination laws, regardless of a worker’s immigration status. It would also require 14 days’ notice or termination pay before firing a domestic worker.
Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright of Harlem sponsored a similar measure that stalled in Albany last year; however, the Assembly bill did not require paid vacations, paid holidays or severance pay. Lawmakers expect that the two versions will be reconciled by Gov. Paterson, who had endorsed the Assembly bill, according to an earlier article by Slate.
Advocates in California and Colorado hope that similar legislation will be introduced in their states next year, Ai-jen Poo, director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, told the Times.
