SACRAMENTO – On Thursday, the California State Senate approved SB 1015 authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that would permanently preserve overtime protections for California’s privately hired domestic workers in state law.
Sponsored by the California Domestic Workers Coalition and supported by over 100 community, labor, education and legal rights organizations, SB 1015 would continue the success from AB 241 (2013)—which granted overtime protections to California’s privately hired domestic workers—by removing the 2017 sunset provision and making the law’s provisions permanent.
Over 300,000 domestic workers serve as housekeepers, nannies, and caregivers in private homes in California. These individuals—comprised of primarily immigrant women—oftentimes provide for their own families as the primary income earner and continue to contribute greatly to the economic and social wellbeing of families and communities across the Golden State. Additionally, without the hard work of domestic workers, many Californians would be forced to forgo their own jobs to address their household needs. Unfortunately, despite the importance of their work, domestic workers have historically received wages well below the poverty level and were excluded from some of the most fundamental labor protections that other California workers enjoy.
“Every single day in homes across California, families entrust domestic workers to serve as nannies, caregivers and housekeepers which in turn allows employers the ability able to hold down their own jobs and tend to their family’s other needs,” Senator Leyva said. “SB 1015 honors that important work by permanently securing into law the basic overtime benefits that domestic workers were granted in 2013 when Governor Brown signed AB 241 into law. I thank my Senate colleagues for supporting this legislation that will continue to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of domestic workers and their families for years to come.”
Domestic workers continue to note the importance of this legislation that would help to improve their quality of life for years to come.
“Since we won overtime protection in 2013, I have had fair pay when I work long hours, more time for my family and extra time to finish a floral design program. I say I got my life back. I gained my dignity back. We need SB 1015 so that the sun does not set on our newfound sense of freedom and dignity and I, and thousands of other domestic workers, are very happy that the Senate agrees,” said Teresita Villasenor, Los Angeles domestic worker member of the Association of Filipino Workers / Pilipino Workers Center, California Domestic Workers Coalition.
SB 1015 now proceeds to the California State Assembly where it will be referred to committees and considered during the summer.
Press Release from the office of Senator Senator Leyva
