| Coverage of Thursday's DOL Announcement |
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The New York Times, USA Today and Marketplace all covered Thursday's announcement of new regulations for fair pay. From the New York Times:Labor unions and advocates for low-wage workers have pushed for the changes, contending that the 37-year-old exemption improperly swept these workers, who care for many elderly and disabled Americans, into the same “companion” category as baby sitters. The administration’s move calls for home care aides to be protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the nation’s main wage and hour law. “They work hard and play by the rules,” President Obama said about a group of workers who often feed patients, tend wounds or help with physical therapy. “Today’s action will ensure that these men and women get paid fairly for a service that a growing number of older Americans couldn’t live without.” From USA Today:Once classified as companions for the elderly and people with disabilities, most home care workers today are part of a growing $70 billion industry that has doubled in size during the past decade. The nation's over-65 population is projected to grow from 40 million to 72 million by 2030; 27 million Americans will need home care by 2050, the government estimates. From Marketplace:About two million people currently work as in-home caregivers. In the next eight years, the industry is projected to expand by 50 percent. But it's hardly a dream job. Thelma Reta cares for an Alzheimer's patient.
In the home where she works, the family treats her like a maid. But she was afraid to complain.
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For Press Inquiries, please contact NDWA Deputy Director Mariana Viturro at mariana@domesticworkers.org or 585.330.4438.