SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

November 21st, 2008
11 A.M.
Assembly Hearing Room
250 Broadway
Room 1923, 19th Floor
New York, New York

TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY

Domestic workers provide valuable services, such childcare or other day-to-day household duties, which allow individuals and families the flexibility to pursue their careers when they may otherwise be unable. Domestic workers are employed under circumstances which differ from most other workers. In household employment the ratio of workers to employers is often one to one or one to two. Because the workplace is also a private home, access for inspection or safety visits is largely unavailable and hence safety visits almost never occur. This, coupled with the fact that these workers are often limited-English-speaking women, makes it difficult for them to organize and express their grievances. Domestic workers represent a class of worker largely excluded from the scope of laws devoted to worker safety and from rules established to guarantee basic conditions of employment such as a day of rest and a forty-hour workweek. The Assembly Labor Committee continues to struggle to find ways to better understand the circumstances and conditions surrounding domestic employment.

Please see the following page for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons presenting testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be by invitation only and limited to ten minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to the Committee as soon as possible.

Ten copies of each witness' prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the hearing.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

1. What are the typical hours and schedule of employment of a domestic worker?

2. What types of benefits do domestic workers receive (i.e. health care, vacation/personal time)?

3. What is the relationship between a domestic worker and their employer?

4. What kinds of grievance procedures exist to handle complaints between a domestic worker and their employer?

5. What can New York State do to improve working conditions for domestic workers?

Please feel free to address other appropriate topics concerning the circumstances of domestic employment.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the circumstances and conditions of domestic employment are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, e-mail or fax it to:

Dallas Trombley
Legislative Analyst
Assembly Committee on Labor
23rd floor, Alfred E. Smith Office Building
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: Trombld@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4311
Fax: (518) 455-7095

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