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Last month, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and 103 Members of Congress in reintroducing the National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. The groundbreaking legislation would extend common workplace rights and protections to the 2.2 million domestic workers in the United States, who are currently excluded from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other key labor and safety laws that most of the workforce relies on. The legislation would also improve job quality by ensuring paid sick days, written agreements, and other benefits.

"The National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights continues Democrats' commitment to ensure legal protections for hard working Americans around the country," said Rep. Escobar. "The labor movement fought hard to ensure overtime pay, guaranteed breaks, protected time off, safe workplaces, and more. Now it is time to enshrine those wins into law for everyone - without loopholes. This legislation reaffirms our mission of building an economy where if you work hard, you should reap the rewards."

Since they are unprotected from labor laws, domestic workers are more likely to live in poverty than workers in other, protected sectors. In 2023, the typical domestic worker earned $20,926 per year, which is not enough to afford a one-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States. Four in five domestic workers also do not receive sick days, and one in three do not receive breaks during work. 

The legislation amends the Civil Rights Act and the FLSA to ensure domestic workers are able to earn overtime, sick days, and are able to request time off for personal reasons, that their employment is subject to a written agreement, that they are provided meal and rest breaks, that their privacy is protected, and that they are protected from workplace discrimination and harassment. It would also create additional resources to better implement these protections and rights and establish a National Domestic Worker Hotline where workers can call to seek assistance on employment issues.