FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 16, 2025
CONTACT: Daniela Perez, [email protected]
As Care Remains Essential, Federal Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Reintroduced to Extend Long-Overdue Labor Protections
Led by the very workers whose labor powers homes and communities, this bill reflects a growing national consensus that care can no longer be overlooked.
Washington, D.C. — Today, on International Domestic Workers Day, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal reintroduced the Federal Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that would, at long last, extend basic labor protections to the more than 2.2 million domestic workers who care for our children, clean our homes, and support aging adults and people with disabilities across the country. The bill’s return to Congress represents a critical opportunity to close long-standing gaps in federal labor laws and affirm the dignity of this essential workforce.
As part of ongoing efforts to uplift and honor domestic workers for International Domestic Workers Day, the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) marked the occasion with celebrations in New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Miami-Dade County. These gatherings brought workers, supporters, and community leaders together to recognize the power of domestic worker organizing and to call for urgent federal action.
“Domestic workers have always been essential,” said Jenn Stowe, Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. “For generations, women of color and immigrant women have provided the care that powers our economy and strengthens our communities. Yet today, that essential work is under threat—from looming Medicaid cuts that would devastate workers and care recipients alike, to harmful immigration enforcement that destabilizes families and instills fear in communities where there should be safety. The reintroduction of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights is a declaration that no one should have to live or work in fear, and that every worker deserves dignity, safety, and respect.”
The reintroduction of the bill comes at a time of significant transition in our nation: shifting political tides and growing uncertainty around care infrastructure have tested the strength of our systems. But one thing has remained consistent: the unwavering commitment to uplifting workers and recognizing the deep interdependence of care in our society. Care isn’t a luxury: it’s foundational to our economy, our families, and our shared well-being.
First introduced in 2019 by then-U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and Representative Pramila Jayapal, the Federal Domestic Workers Bill of Rights would guarantee domestic workers essential protections including paid overtime, safe and healthy working conditions, protection from harassment, and the right to form and join a union.
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 bill has been shaped and advanced by domestic workers themselves, many of whom have organized tirelessly in their cities and states to win protections at the local level. From historic wins in New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, to ongoing campaigns in Maine, Washington State, and Miami-Dade County, domestic workers are making their voices heard. With this bill, they’re leading the nation toward a future where care is valued, work is dignified, and no one is left behind.
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National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) is the leading voice for dignity and fairness for millions of domestic workers in the United States. Founded in 2007, NDWA works for respect, recognition and inclusion in labor protections for domestic workers, the majority of whom are immigrants and women of color. NDWA is powered by over 70 affiliate organizations and local chapters and by a growing membership base of nannies, house cleaners and care workers in over 20 states. Learn more at
www.domesticworkers.org. NDWA is a non-partisan non-profit organization that does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidates for public office.
