LOS ANGELES – Supporters of a bill requiring domestic workers to receive overtime pay, meal breaks and other labor protections are hopeful that it may finally come into fruition later this year.

The California State Senate voted 22-12 on Wednesday, and the Assembly voted 48-25 on Thursday, to pass the California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, AB 241.

The bill now awaits Governor Jerry Brown’s signature. Brown vetoed a similar bill last year.

“This vote gets us one step closer to extending equal labor rights to domestic workers in California,” according to a statement released by the Filipino Migrant Center.

“The victory is part of a broad movement to win dignity, respect, and labor protections for the domestic workers who make all other work possible in the United States,” according to the statement.

There are about 200,000 domestic workers in the state. Tens of thousands of them are Filipinos, according to the Filipino Migrant Center.

Under AB 241, domestic workers such as caregivers, nannies, and housekeepers, , would receive time-and-a-half pay if they work more than nine hours per-day or 45 hours per week.

If passed, California would join New York and Hawaii to have labor protections for domestic workers.

(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend September 14-17, 2013 Sec A pg.1)