NYC Care Campaign
NYC Care Campaign

We are a growing movement of domestic workers, employers, parents, family caregivers, older adults, and people with disabilities working together to transform New York City’s care economy to one that is equitable and sustainable for all.

Our Goals

Build our political power to win victories for domestic workers, employers and family caregivers.

Influence mayoral and city council elections to start transforming the care system in NYC

Transform the care sector towards a sustainable, fair and equitable sector.

Domestic work is essential work

Domestic work is essential work, and a vital part of the New York City economy. As COVID-19 has shown the world, the care work of childcare providers, nannies, house cleaners and home attendants, is work that makes all other work possible.

There is a growing demand in our city for domestic workers. Yet as this recently released domestic worker fact sheet outlines, these jobs remain underpaid, undervalued, and without benefits. New York City’s 200,000 domestic workers are largely immigrant women of color— further exacerbating the racial and economic injustices far too prevalent in our city.

Our Policy Recommendations

We call on New York City to create a care action plan in partnership with local worker and employer organizations. This plan should respond to the COVID-19 crisis, raise standards for domestic workers, and support the enforcement of domestic worker rights legislation through worker/employer outreach and education.  It is also imperative that we stop the attack on our Black and brown communities by defunding the police and ending all collaboration with I.C.E. while reinvesting in Black and brown communities.

  1. Create a government funded outreach program and increase enforcement for worker and employer education to end the “behind doors” employment practices.
  2. Ensure labor and human rights protections for domestic workers
    • Pass Int. 339 to provide human rights protections to domestic workers at the workplace.
    • Pass Paid Personal Time one million New Yorkers, including domestic workers.
    • Set up a retirement program for domestic workers regardless of their immigration status.
    • Create and pass a policy to prevent unjustified termination. Employers would be required to provide a written reason for the termination at least two weeks in advance.
  3. Invest in an essential home care workforce and long term services and support for older adults and people with disabilities.
    • Increase funding for older New Yorkers and direct home care services and programs.
    • Further develop career recruitment, outreach plans, and provide benefits for home care and direct workers regardless of immigration status.
    • Improve data collection to better create targeted policies to find solutions.
  4. Increase investment for universal childcare, ensuring childcare for domestic workers and everyone who needs it.
  5. Defund the police and ensure the NYPD do not collaborate with I.C.E.
    • Decrease NYPD budget to instead invest in good care jobs, access to quality housing and education for low-income New Yorkers.
    • Secure NYC as a sanctuary city and reinforce sanctuary policies
  6. End tax breaks for the wealthiest New Yorkers to provide economic relief for workers, and invest in communities of color including  access to quality care, health, housing, education, transportation, and all human rights  every New Yorker deserves.

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We launched the NYC Care Campaign on Thursday, February 11th. Read our press release here.

The Care Platform is an initiative of National Domestic Workers Alliance, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network, Adhikaar, and Carroll Gardens Association.