“I am here as a PAWIS member to learn more about my rights as a domestic worker and to share my story without shame, without fear, and with confidence.”
In 2018, I came from the Philippines to the US and married my fiancé. I lived with my husband in LA but divorced after emotional and psychological abuse and came to San Jose. Since 2019, I have been working as a homecare worker for agencies who would assign me to 1-on-1 caregiving duties in private homes.
Once I had a client, and I was always lifting her back and forth from her bed to her small wheelchair, to the bathroom to the shower chair. It was very difficult. She was 280 pounds. It was taking a big toll on my back and hips.The family didn’t know about support instruments. So I asked the family for a hoyer lift, a sling, a bigger wheelchair and a support back brace for myself, and they got them. My health and safety conditions improved immensely after that, and I believe all workers deserve to have these protections.
I feel very blessed that I got to know PAWIS. The organization helped me regain my dignity and my voice. Now, I am here as a PAWIS member to learn more about my rights as a domestic worker and to share my story without shame, without fear, and with confidence.
It warms my heart to know that there are many individuals, friends, allies and other workers, who unite with us to struggle against abuse, oppression and exploitation.
