March 4th, 2021

Re: Black and Brown United in Action Testimony in SUPPORT for HB. 6537, SUPPORT for SB. 943

Dear Representative Robyn Porter, Senator Julie Kusher, and Members of the Labor and Public Employees Committee,

Black and Brown United In Action is a grassroots organization located in New Haven, and is providing testimony in support of HB. 6537 and SB. 943. Domestic workers comprise a significant part of the global workforce in informal and are among the most vulnerable groups of workers. They work for private households, often without clear terms of employment, unregistered in any book, and excluded from the scope of labour legislation. Black and Brown United in Action recognizes the significance of domestic work; these are the workers who take care of what is most important to us andyet often the least valued and the most vulnerable.

The historic roots of anti-blackness and white supremacy began with the rise of chattel and colonization of the Americas. While the majority of enslaved Africans worked in the fields, an estimated 15% worked as domestic servants on plantations in the South. Even though the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in 1789, Black people were regularly enslaved as criminal punishment. After the abolition of slavery, many Black women worked as domestic workers, but were still criminalized within the work. Domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and domestic slavery because of the unique circumstances of working inside a private household combined with a lack of legal protection particularly during this unprecedented moment of public and economic crises. Some domestic workers are migrant workers from other countries or regions. For many, domestic work is one of the very few options available to enable them to provide for themselves and their .

In Connecticut, there are approximately 40,000 domestic workers who serve as housekeepers, nannies, and caregivers in private homes. Domestic workers play a critical role in Connecticut's economy, working to ensure the health and prosperity of Connecticut families and freeing others to participate in the workforce. A majority (52.4%) of domestic workers are Black, Hispanic, over a quarter (27.2%) are Hispanic women and nearly one in five (19.7%) are Black women. Most house cleaners are Hispanic women (58.9%) and more than a quarter (27.2%) of agency-based home care aides are Black women.

HB 6537: An Act for Paid Sick Days Expansion and Domestic Workers Coverage During this pandemic, the need for has never been more clear, as the safety of domestic workers is threatened simply by going to work. This bill is a critical component of the government’s response to the COVID-19, also referred to as Coronavirus, pandemic. By guaranteeing paid sick days to everyone, the bill ensures that people can take the time they need for testing and quarantines without sacrificing their financial security and wellbeing. We urge the Committee to include domestic workers and all workers in Paid Sick Days. Here are some notable attributes of HB. 6357: Coverage for all workers: HB.6357 removes the employer size threshold and classification list outlined in ​ ​ existing law and requires all employers, regardless of size or industry, to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick time to their employees per year. Reduces the waiting period to accrue and use paid : HB. 6537 eliminates the waiting period for an ​ employee to use the paid sick days they’ve accrued from 680 hours to immediately after the commencement of employment. Include all types of structures and relationships: HB. 6537 affords workers the capacity to use paid ​ ​ sick days to care for a spouse, child of any age, grandparent, grandchild, parent, sibling, and any individual related to the employee by blood or affinity who is the equivalent of family. Provides pandemic-related sick leave as well as an additional 80 hours of COVID-19 specific leave: HB. ​ ​ 6537 allows sick time to be used when a worker’s place of work or child’s school/place of care is closed by public health officials for a public health emergency and provides an additional 80 hours of paid sick time for COVID-19 related purposes so long as there is a federal tax credit.

SB 943: An Act Concerning And Enforcement Relating To Domestic Workers The pay is often very low, with wage payments frequently delayed. Some domestic workers may not be paid at all or only receive ‘payment in kind’ such as food or accommodation. Domestic workers have won the right to earn and . Many domestic workers are live-in domestics. Though they often have their own quarters, their accommodations are not usually as comfortable as those reserved for the family members. In some cases, they sleep in the kitchen or small rooms, such as a box room, sometimes located in the basement or attic.Some domestic workers also live in their employers’ homes and are often considered ‘on call’ to undertake work for their employer 24 hours a day. Here are some notable attributes SB. 943: Provides basic labor protections:SB. 943 affords domestic workers the right to earn at least $13 per hour. ​ Domestic workers were excluded from basic labor protections for 60 years. In 2013, the US Department of Labor issued rules that guaranteed minimum wage and overtime for most domestic workers. Protects workers from :SB. 943 protects domestic workers from wage theft. Many domestic ​ workers and employers do not know about their rights and responsibilities. Wage theft occurs when the employer pays less than the minimum wage, fails to pay overtime, or fails to pay at all. Wage theft is rampant in the region. In a Rutgers study of 400 domestic workers across in 2019, more than half of the workers (57%) had been victims of wage theft. Research shows that wage theft gets even worse during an economic . are scarce and workers are afraid to report violations, because they are often fired in retaliation. Provides an educational program:SB. 943 will create a program within the Connecticut Department of Labor ​ to educate workers, educate employers, and work together to make sure that domestic workers are earning the that they deserve. Similar programs have been successful in the state of and cities including NYC, Chicago, Seattle, and . Notably, the state of California dramatically improved wage enforcement by partnering with community organizations to do outreach, education, and enforcement to the most vulnerable workers.

There are almost 2.5 million domestic workers in the and over 40, 000 domestic workers in Connecticut. In this unprecedented moment of public health and economic crises, domestic workers are a critical workforce on the frontlines of our collective response in the fight against coronavirus. Domestic workers continue to provide life saving in-home services to the elderly, people with disabilities and people with chronic illnesses. Nannies workers are caring for the children of essential workers like professionals. As previously stated, many domestic workers do not have paid time off or sick days, formal contracts with protection against unfair , or livable wages. Unfortunately some domestic workers, like house cleaners, are losing their jobs if they self-isolate or practice social distancing, leaving them without even the work they were receiving. Domestic workers, whose worksites are private homes, have always faced unique challenges and have seen their work undervalued. In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, this already-vulnerable group is placed in a particularly precarious position. As a result, many domestic workers are continuing to show up on the frontlines providing the critical care that their employers need, and putting their own health at risk, while domestic workers are experiencing a steep decline in work. Black and Brown United In Action urges the Co-Chairs and the Committee to support HB. 6537 and SB. 943.

Sincerely, Black and Brown United in Action