Illinois latest state to expand domestic workers' rights

CHICAGO (AP) — 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.

"Working in someone's home and the aspect of it being invisible work from the public view ... it leaves a lot of room for workers to be mistreated," said Yomara Velez, an organizer with the New York-based National Domestic Workers Alliance.

There are an estimated 2 million domestic workers in the country, 93 percent are women and one-third are immigrant, according to the Economic Policy Institute, based in Washington D.C. Household employees — including maids and cooks — weren't included in 1930s labor law, though federal rules have since changed.

California established temporary overtime pay rules for private domestic workers in 2013 and legislators approved an expansion this week.

There were also safety concerns, such as when a male resident of a home where she cleaned and washed clothes with another worker would undress and linger in the laundry room.