President Obama: Extend Labor Protections to Homecare Workers

In December of 2011, President Obama announced that his administration would extend federal minimum wage and overtime protections to an estimated 2.5 million homecare workers.  More than one year later, the rule changes to the “companionship exemption” of the Fair Labor Standards Act are under final review by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Organizations such as the Domestic Workers Alliance have long fought for the changes, which would primarily benefit poor women, immigrants and people of color, and support is growing. The Nation included them in our list of proposed executive actions for the President's second term and the New York Times recently ran an editorial arguing that the exemption amounted to “an institutionalized form of sexism, racism and exploitation.” Meanwhile, the profitable home healthcare industry continues to lobby to maintain the status quo.  

Homecare workers are workers, not companions, and deserve to be compensated as such. Sign our open letter to President Obama imploring him to fulfill his promise and extend minimum wage and overtime protections to homecare workers now. 

A homecare worker in Miami, FL. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)