For the first time, domestic workers in California will have labor protections. This comes after Governor Garvin Newton signed a law protecting workers in this sector. Housecleaners, caregivers, and gardeners will be covered by the state’s workplace safety and health law starting July 2025.
This is known as the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), better known as Cal/OSHA, protects and improves the health and safety of working men and women in California and the safety of passengers riding on elevators, amusement rides, and tramways – through this activities: setting and enforcing standards, providing outreach, education, and assistance, issuing permits, licenses, certifications, registrations, and approvals.
These workers will have safe and healthy working conditions
The employees will have the following rights. They will have safe and healthy working conditions; training from their employer on workplace hazards and worker’s rights; to ask their employer for information about Cal/ OSHA standards, worker injuries and illnesses, job hazards, and workers’ rights; to request access to their employer’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP); to ask their employer to correct hazards or unsafe conditions, and to file a complaint with Cal/OSHA regarding violations of Title 8 or any workplace hazards.
This is a very important law, as domestic work is one of those sectors that doesn’t attract attention, that goes unnoticed. But occupational hazards can be very serious. Therefore, the law considers some of them of great importance, such as accident prevention, the safe use of cleaning products, protective equipment, and access to mandatory rest days and vacations. Just because a job doesn’t require academic training doesn’t mean the worker doesn’t have labor rights.
California becomes one of the few states in the United States to offer assistance and protection to domestic workers
Workers in California are protected regardless of immigration status. With these measures, California becomes one of the few states in the United States to offer assistance and protection to domestic workers, who represent a significant portion of the workforce in Californian homes. Thus, Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California.
On the other hand, employers’ obligations and responsibilities to provide a safe workplace include establishing, implementing, and maintaining an effective injury and illness prevention program (IIPP). This includes inspecting the workplace to identify, assess, and correct hazards that could injure workers; ensuring that employees properly possess, use, and maintain safe tools and equipment; providing and paying for personal protective equipment (PPE) when required by law; and immediately reporting serious workplace injuries or deaths to Cal/OSHA.
This legislation recognizes the work of thousands of migrants in homes
Furthermore, it is important to note that this type of legislation focuses on work typically performed by migrants. This is one of the main communication topics currently. This legislation recognizes the work of thousands of migrants in homes by highlighting their rights in a fair and dignified manner.
“It’s only right that we care for those who care for us”
On this regard, Debra Lee, Cal/OSHA Chief, said: “Domestic workers take on some of the hardest jobs -caring for our loved ones, cleaning our homes, and supporting our daily lives-. They deserve the same protections as any other worker. It’s only right that we care for those who care for us.” Maybe with the step that the State of california is taking, sea el camino a seguir por otros estados. Recognizing this type of work helps erase the stigma attached to workers in this sector.
