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Domestic Workers Rights?
(IRN)--Domestic workers, such as full time nannies, housekeepers and those who take care of the elderly would get time and a half pay and a guaranteed day off every week under a bill that's passed the Illinois Senate Labor Committee.

But Senate Republicans on the committee question the plan.

"How are they even going to know this exists until the department comes in and audits them?" asked State Sen. Shane Cultra (R-Onarga).

"If one has a person that comes and cleans their house or something, they have to usually -- if they’re paying cash - they really should be withholding money. So this is going to fit into the same issue," replied bill sponsor Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago).

Silverstein says the domestic worker would be responsible for calling violations of the proposed law to their employer.

"They (families who employ domestic workers) are helping people get a start and there's a relationship that develops between that immigrant and myself," said State Sen. Thomas Johnson (R-Wheaton). "And I am as concerned about getting that person going as the next person."

Johnson says the bureaucracy Silverstein's bill would bring into families' homes would help to exclude immigrants from "getting a start in the American dream" because families may be less likely to hire if there's too much added responsibility.

SB68 passed on a party line vote of 6-4 and now goes to the full Senate.

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
03 20 11 by Newsroom
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