Implementing a human rights law for domestic workers by the New York City government finds a community ready to educate employers and employees. Taking effect March 12, the law will provide human rights protections for individuals providing personal care in households. However, because their work is often behind closed doors, they are susceptible to abuse.
“Human rights law is so much broader than sexual harassment,” said Sulekha Frank, the lead advisor for low-wage and domestic workers at the New York City Commission on Human Rights. “Sexual harassment is one aspect of our law, but there are other categories that can be discriminated against.” The city government commission is tasked with implementing the law, called Intro 339-B.
The law addresses discrimination in the domestic workplace, specifically homes, by providing safeguards in protected classes such as “actual or perceived age, race, color, national origin, gender, disability,” among others, including “reproductive health decisions.” There are 36 protected classes overall. Domestic work often includes child care, elder care, house cleaning and home health aides.
Employers of domestic workers “are comfortable within their home,” Frank said. They may say sexist, racist or other discriminatory things. Since homes are now...
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