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Inquiries related to Local Law 88 of 2021 and domestic workers

1:30:09

·

147 sec

Council Member Williams inquires about the impact of Local Law 88 of 2021, which extended employment protections to domestic workers. Deputy Commissioner JoAnn Kamuf Ward discusses the commission's efforts and observations since the law's enactment.

CCHR has observed a shift in how employers of domestic workers perceive their responsibilities
The commission focuses on education, outreach, and partnerships in this area
CCHR participates in the Care Standards Board to create workplace standards for domestic workers
There hasn't been a significant uptick in cases from domestic workers since the law changed

Nantasha M. Williams

1:30:09

Thank you.

1:30:22

So has the commission seen any major shifts in the number of types number or types of employment related inquiries from immigrants in the city?

1:30:30

For example, many domestic workers may be recent immigrants.

1:30:34

How many inquiries has the commission received related to the enactment of Local Law 88 of 2021, which extended employment protections to domestic workers?

JoAnn Kamuf Ward

1:30:46

Great question.

1:30:48

I was gonna give a Staten Island shout out, but Hanks is not here.

1:30:51

The signing of that law was one of the first first things I did when I joined the commission, so I feel very, tied to it.

1:30:58

And my grandmother was domestic worker and my mom is health care worker.

1:31:01

So, I think a lot of the impetus for changing that law was a change in workplace culture and the recognition that employers have responsibilities.

1:31:12

I think we feel very confident that there is a shift in how employers of domestic workers feel their responsibilities, and and what that looks like.

1:31:22

I would say a lot of the focus in this area has been on education outreach and partnership.

1:31:28

So we have, at our agency, a liaison focused on low wage and domestic workers who is really the focal point for working with organizations like NDWA, AdiKar, and others who are are in this in this space.

1:31:43

What we have, been doing is being part of something called the Care Standards Board, which is an effort to, create sort of workplace standards.

1:31:52

This is not a litigation effort.

1:31:54

Right?

1:31:55

It's thinking about how do you take the protections like what are in the human rights law and discuss them with an employer, to ensure that workplaces are actually dignified and safe for workers.

1:32:06

I think we have not seen a huge uptick in cases from people in in the domestic worker space as a result of this law, but I also think that's not that's not a surprise.

1:32:18

I don't think litigation was the aim of of changing the law.

1:32:23

I think the other thing I will just say is we had, before this law went into effect, some, some types of domestic workers were filing cases with us.

1:32:32

I think the the numbers have not shifted significantly since the law changed.

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