OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate passed the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Wednesday, advancing critical labor protections for thousands of domestic workers in Washington.
Senate Bill 5023, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), seeks to provide critical labor protections for domestic workers, including housekeepers, nannies, caregivers, and gardeners.
“Domestic workers play a vital role in our communities, yet they’ve long been excluded from basic labor protections,” Saldaña said. “This bill is an important step in ensuring domestic workers — many of whom are women, immigrants, and people of color — have access to the same labor protections as other Washington workers. It’s a step toward justice and dignity for those who provide essential work in our homes.”
The bill would require employers of domestic workers to provide minimum wage, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, and protection from discrimination and retaliation. It also mandates that employers provide written employment agreements and adhere to specific notice requirements before terminating domestic workers, with protections tailored to live-in workers.
The Department of Labor and Industries would investigate complaints, enforce the law, and hold employers accountable through civil penalties. The bill also reinforces workers’ rights to retain personal belongings, including immigration documents, and prohibits employers from requesting or keeping them.
If enacted, Washington would become the 13th state to remove historic exclusions of domestic workers from labor protections and rights, joining states like New York, California, and New Jersey.
The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
