“Domestic workers must unite and fight for our rights to have a safe workplace and get the fair treatment that we deserve.”
I am a caregiver and worker leader of the Filipino Migrant Center. I have been working as a homecare worker for more than 18 years. It is more than just a job. I enjoy helping and giving care to my clients and I treat them like they are my family. This makes me happy, and I’m gratefulto be able to take care of them. It is an important job.
However, being a homecare worker is not without its challenges. As a live-in homecare worker, I work consecutive days and get little sleep because I am on call. I cannot afford to take time off even if I feel exhausted or not well because it would mean losing income. In addition, my employer does not pay me enough to cover overtime hours and sometimes does not pay me on time, resulting in more stress which takes a toll on my physical health as well.
Another aspect of my work is performing some housekeeping duties. When I clean the bathroom, the smell of the strong cleaning chemicals can make me feel light-headed.
I know the lack of sleep from overwork, the use of toxic cleaning products, and not having the proper training and equipment to lighten our load as homecare workers can increase the risk of accidents in my work.
This is why it is important that we have health and safety protections under Cal/OSHA for all caregivers who are experiencing similar hardships like me.We feel more secure in our workplace and we’re more productive if we’re protected.
As a worker leader, I outreach to other domestic workers with the Filipino Migrant Center and teach them about the health and safety campaign and why we need to fight for the inclusion of caregivers and domestic workers in safety and health protection under Cal/OSHA. Domestic workers must unite and fight for our rights to have a safe workplace and get the fair treatment that we deserve.
