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USA: Victory in Massachusetts! NDWA Affiliate, Matahari, protected au pairs rights and the domestic workers' law!

USA: Victory in Massachusetts! NDWA Affiliate, Matahari, protected au pairs rights and the domestic workers' law!

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by IDWFED published Mar 14, 2016 12:00 AM
On March 14, domestic worker leaders from Matahari attended a State House hearing on H.B. 4053, a bill that sought to exclude au pairs from the Massachusetts Domestic Workers’ Law, passed in 2014. It aimed to take away critical labor rights and protections from this group of domestic workers, creating an underclass of childcare providers, and undercutting the childcare industry as a whole.

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MA, USA -

On March 14, domestic worker leaders from Matahari attended a State House hearing on H.B. 4053, a bill that sought to exclude au pairs from the Massachusetts Domestic Workers’ Law, passed in 2014. It aimed to take away critical labor rights and protections from this group of domestic workers, creating an underclass of childcare providers, and undercutting the childcare industry as a whole.

TOGETHER, WE STOPPED THAT FROM HAPPENING!

With our team of nine hearing day testifiers, over 100 signatures on our petition, and dozens of organizational supporters, we made the case that au pairs deserve the same rights as all other domestic workers!

Photo: Matahari Women Workers' Center/FACEBOOK


Claudia and Thaty, former au pairs and current Matahari member leaders and nannies, testified about their past experiences as au pairs. Claudia spoke of her four-month ordeal with one of her host families. The family worked her around the clock and did not allow her privacy or rest time; when she spoke up about her long hours, the family cut off her internet and phone access, even unplugging the phone at night.

When she alerted the au pair agency, the family kicked her out of the house the same day. Thaty spoke about how difficult it is for au pairs to speak up for themselves for fear of being sent back to their home countries and losing the fees they’ve paid to take part in the program. She also shared stories of fellow au pairs she had met who were constantly hungry, despite the fact that money was deducted from their weekly stipends for food; one au pair she knew was provided only canned soup to eat. These cases prove that au pairs need the protections of the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights!

In less than 48 hours, we were able to collect over 100 petition signatures in support of our position! Normalyn, a Matahari member leader and nanny in Jamaica Plain, shared in her testimony how the au pair industry drives down wages and standards for nannies and how limiting au pair rights would make it worse. She proudly presented over 100 signatures from au pairs, nannies, and families to the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development!

Although we won this battle, this will not be the last effort to attack the Domestic Workers’ Law and to limit protections for au pairs, nannies, and other domestic workers. We will need everyone’s involvement to improve the industry for all!

Source: Matahari Women Workers' Center

Story Type: News

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