A proposed law would boost nearly 50,000 child care providers, house cleaners, gardeners and other domestic workers in New Jersey.

NEW JERSEY — They’re known as “domestic workers,” and in New Jersey, nearly 50,000 of them provide essential services like child care, house cleaning, cooking and gardening. Many are women, immigrants and people of color who work in private homes – far away from the public eye. And it’s time to give them some long overdue job protection, advocates say.

Earlier this week, a proposed law known as the “New Jersey Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act” took a big step forward when a state Assembly committee voted 3-1 in its favor. The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further review. Read its full text here.

According to the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), here’s what the bill will do if it becomes law:

• “Establish contracts between an employer and a domestic worker, documenting work hours, wages and duties”
• “Eliminate the safety and health exclusion to ensure safe and secure workplaces”
• “Guarantee a two-week termination policy that provides adequate notice for domestic workers”
• “Protect against threatening workers for their immigration status and restrictions against retaliation from an employer when a worker asserts their rights”
• “Provide privacy and anti-trafficking protections to ensure workers are allowed freedom in their communication and private housing outside of work”
• “Provide paid rest periods and meal...

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