95% Of Domestic Workers Are Women. In California, They're Demanding Better Pay

Teresita Villasenor was working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for 18 months straight.

I felt like I was a slave, she told The Huffington Post regarding the job she quit in 2014. Villasenor is from the Philippines and has been working as a caregiver in the U.S. for the past five years. She is one of thousands of domestic workers in California fighting to make overtime laws for caregivers permanent in the state.

I had no days off for 18 months, she said. My boss took advantage of me, and I wasnt getting enough pay. I was working like a horse, I didnt even have time to read a book. I felt depressed, and oppressed.

From the Bay to LA, #Domesticworkers won't let the sun set on our dignity! https://t.co/Wk0cvTk2Op #DignityRising pic.twitter.com/DkNhOKUfEF

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From the Bay to LA, #Domesticworkers won't let the sun set on our dignity! https://t.co/Wk0cvTk2Op #DignityRising pic.twitter.com/DkNhOKUfEF
Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) March 7, 2016

The California Bill of Rights currently protects overtime pay for personal attendants, such as nannies and caregivers for seniors or the disabled. But there's a hitch: when the law was passed in 2013, it was signed as a provisional law, which means it will expire in 2017 unless a new law is passed by September.

On Friday, the California Domestic Workers Coalition launched a campaign to make overtime pay for domestic workers permanent in the state.

The dignity of domestic workers isnt a provisional right -- it is something that should be a permanent condition, said Katie Joaquin, campaign director for the California Domestic Workers Coalition, to the Huffington Post on Friday.

The campaign will mobilize domestic workers statewide on a monthly basis to engaged in press activities, rallies and other actions until Gov. Brown signs the new bill , which Senator Connie Leyva introduced last month, to make overtime protection permanent.

Honored to stand up for our #DomesticWorkers. TY @CADomesticWrker for joining me to support #SB1015 #dignityrising pic.twitter.com/fhEGnoucAB

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Honored to stand up for our #DomesticWorkers . TY @CADomesticWrker for joining me to support #SB1015 #dignityrising pic.twitter.com/fhEGnoucAB
Connie Leyva (@SenatorLeyva) March 4, 2016

In California, there are over 300,000 domestic workers, according to a press release from Sen. Connie Leyva. Most of these workers are immigrant women.

This is part of the entrenched undervaluing of womens work, said Joaquin. "These are mothers, aunties, grandmothers, who are breadwinners for their families, and are also supporting families in the country where they come from.

Nationwide, 95 percent of domestic workers are women, according to a 2012 national study of domestic workers . 54 percent were women of color, and 46 percent were immigrants.

Working behind closed doors, beyond the reach of personnel policies, and often without employment contracts, [domestic workers] are subject to the whims of their employers, the study said. Some employers are terrific, generous and understanding. Others, unfortunately, are demanding, exploitative and abusive.

In California, 90 percent of domestic workers who worked overtime did not always receive overtime pay, according to a 2007 Household Worker Rights Coalition Survey .

This is part of the entrenched undervaluing of womens work.

Often there isnt a clear outline of what work is expected, the amount of time it takes, and that they should be paid for all of it, Joaquin said. Theres an unstated expectation that whatever needs arise, it is the domestic workers responsibility. When an employer has the power to make requests at whatever time, it feels like a relationship of servitude.

Rather than giving workers a firm schedule, employers will often have an on-call arrangement, particularly for workers who live in the home, elaborated Joaquin. When work expectations are not laid out, workers are not able to live their own lives, be with their families, and do things they want to do on their own time.

Were watching over people around the clock, Villasenor said in regard to her previous experience caring for a person with disabilities. The family of the patient calls to see how he is doing. They arent there, the doctor isnt there, you are there. Even in your sleep, youre required to get up anytime they need you.