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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 146-03
June 3, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION PROTECTING DOMESTIC WORKERS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Law

The first bill before me today is Introductory Number 96-A, sponsored by Council Members Brewer, Quinn, Clarke, Comrie, De Blasio, Foster, Gerson, Jackson, Lopez, Perkins, Reed, Reyna, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Stewart, Monserrate, Liu, Davis, Jennings, Yassky, Avella, Gentile, Dilan, Espada Jr., Baez, Barron, Boyland, Gonzalez, Katz, Koppell, Martinez, Recchia Jr., Rivera, Serrano, Vann, Gennaro and The Speaker, Gifford Miller.  This legislation amends the Administrative Code and will, for the first time, protect the basic rights of domestic workers by requiring employment agencies to disclose the employment rights of domestic workers and the legal obligations of their employers under State and Federal Law.

Domestic workers are an important part of the labor force in this City and they provide valuable services, whether as nannies or as housekeepers, for the thousands of families that employ them.  Unfortunately, because of their immigration status, isolated work environments, language barriers, and racial and sex discrimination, domestic workers are often unaware of their employment rights and of the responsibilities of the families that employ them.  Too often domestic workers are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by unscrupulous employers. 

To protect domestic workers from unfair labor practices, this legislation requires that all licensed employment agencies under the jurisdiction of the Department of Consumer Affairs must provide applicants for domestic work with a written statement indicating their employment rights and the obligations of their prospective employers under State and Federal law, prior to arranging a job placement.  This statement of rights and obligations will contain important employment information, such as minimum wage requirements, Social Security benefits, hours of work, time off and worker’s compensation.  Families hiring domestic workers through an employment agency will be required to sign a statement acknowledging that they are aware of these respective rights and obligations. Employment agencies that violate the law may be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 or a prison sentence of up to one year.

I would like to take a moment to thank the Council for all of the work that they put in to drafting this bill especially Council Member Gail Brewer.





CONTACT:

Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz   (212) 788-2958


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