Protection for California Domestic Workers – Bay Area Telemundo 48

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law that brings more job protections to California domestic workers, but not everyone is included.

Senator Elena Durza’s bill SB-1350 requires California to follow federal standards to ensure the health and safety of domestic workers in their workplace, through CalOsha.

“What is going to change is that there will be a state agency that will enforce health and safety laws within the home,” explained María Elena Durazo, state senator and author of the project.

The law covers 175,000 domestic workers who care for children, the elderly or clean and work through a private agency or third parties.

“Sometimes they’re called road owners, who have their business, and they have some workers who work for them and hire them to work at home,” said Kimberly Alvarenga, director of the California Domestic Workers Coalition.

However, not all domestic workers are covered, so they say they will continue the fight.

CalOsha will now have to issue guidelines to implement the law that will take effect in July 2025, which include what conditions must be in place, what chemicals you must use, tools, to do your job without getting hurt .