Res. No. 135-A Title Resolution supporting the rights and dignity of domestic workers. Body By Council Members Brewer, Quinn, Baez, Barron, Clarke, Comrie, de Blasio, Foster, Gennaro, Gerson, Jackson, Lopez, Martinez, Nelson, Perkins, Reed, Reyna, Rivera, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Serrano, Monserrate, Liu, Davis, Yassky, Avella, Jennings, Dilan, Espada Jr., Gonzalez, Gentile, Katz, Recchia Jr. and Weprin; also Council Members Boyland and Vann Whereas, An estimated tens of thousands of domestic workers are employed in New York City as housekeepers, nannies, companions and homecare workers; and Whereas, Domestic workers are central to the ongoing prosperity that the City enjoys; and Whereas, Domestic workers care for the most important elements of their employers' lives: their families and homes; and Whereas, Despite the value of their work, domestic workers often labor under harsh conditions, working long hours for low wages without benefits or job security; and Whereas, Domestic workers are isolated in their workplaces, and may be vulnerable to sexual harassment and assault, as well as verbal, emotional and psychological abuse, of which most cases go unreported; and Whereas, Domestic workers do not receive the full protection of many state and federal labor laws; and Whereas, The majority of domestic workers in New York City are immigrant women of color who face barriers to entering other occupations due to race and sex discrimination, language barriers and immigration status; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares its support for the rights of all workers to regularize their immigration status, to organize and to live and work with dignity and respect; and, be it finally Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on City, State, and federal authorities to enforce fully the protections for domestic workers that exist in current law; and, be it further Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature and the United States Congress to establish fair labor standards for the domestic work industry and to extend to domestic workers the full protection of all State and federal labor laws; and, be it further Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on domestic employers to abide by the Domestic Guidelines for Domestic Employers set forth by the citywide organization Domestic Workers United, including protection from unjust firings, notice of termination, severance pay, annual paid vacation, overtime after forty hours of work, paid sick days and paid national holidays; and, be it further Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York hereby recognizes that there shall be a "Domestic Worker Recognition Day" in affirmation of the right of domestic workers to fair labor practices and in recognition of all domestic workers for their hard work and dedication, their contribution to the stability and well-being of the New York City family household and their often overlooked contributions to the New York City economy. LP/BK LS#180 5/1/03 |1013| |10
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