Illinois latest state to expand domestic workers' rights

CHICAGO — Left out of federal labor law written decades ago, nannies, housekeepers and private caregivers are gaining legal protections in a growing number of states, with Illinois becoming the latest to establish a domestic workers' "bill of rights."

The Illinois rules, signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner this month, extend sexual harassment protections as well as minimum-wage pay and a guaranteed one day off in a seven-day work week to the domestic workforce, which is mostly female and immigrant heavy. Six other states have similar laws, but Illinois is now the first in the Midwest and advocates say they hope to expand their efforts into the southern states.

Backers say the laws are needed because domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation: They work alone at odd hours and often live where they work. The pay can be measly and for immigrants, language and legal status can complicate things.

Last week, a Minnesota woman was charged for allegedly beating and starving a woman she brought from China to work as a nanny up to 18 hours a day.

Read more: http://www.pjstar.com/news/20160821/illinois-latest-state-to-expand-domestic-workers-rights