Thread: Maryland: Council gives protection to domestic workers

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Council gives protection to domestic workers
Executive plans to sign bill outlining worker’s and employer’s obligations
County News by Janel Davis | Staff Writer

The County Council has unanimously approved a bill intended to protect domestic workers from being exploited by employers.


Under the bill, passed Tuesday, employers will be required to provide domestic workers with a written contract detailing terms of employment and offer to negotiate those terms. If an employee rejects the contract, but continues providing services, the employee must sign a waiver.
The bill is designed to help workers in homes, mostly women employed as housekeepers and nannies. It covers employees working more than 20 hours a week for 30 days or more. Employers are not required to file the contracts with the county, but if a complaint is made, they must be able to produce the contract or the waiver for the county’s Office of Consumer Protection.

County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) plans to sign the bill.

‘‘These individuals do important work in keeping county households going, caring for our children and our seniors and more,â€

Once again, no mention of "illegal" immigrants, just immigrants.

Can anyone read the following and actually believe most of these folks are legal immigrants?

The survey found that about half earned less than the state’s $6.15 an hour minimum wage and worked an average 58 hours a week. More than half did not speak English, with Spanish being the primary language for 73 percent of the workers.