New York City—Following is a statement from Caitlin Connolly, home care fair pay campaign coordinator with the National Employment Law Project:

“We applaud the New York City Council for voting today to establish a new division focused on protecting the workplace rights of the city’s home care and child care workers.

“The new Division of Paid Care—part of the city’s Office of Labor Standards—will serve as a critical resource for the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who work in home care and child care.

“The new division will serve a crucial role in coordinating stakeholders, enforcing labor laws, and strengthening our home care and child care systems.

“By conducting outreach campaigns in coordination with public agencies, worker advocates, and labor and employment organizations, the division will provide workers with vital information about their employment rights, health and safety issues, and other key resources.

“By collecting data and researching this workforce, the division will aid in creating policies that improve working conditions and lift these jobs from low-wage work to sustainable careers.

“Home care and child care workers provide the critical supports and services that allow New Yorkers to live independently or go to work knowing that their children are safe and well cared for.

“By establishing this new division, we recognize paid caregivers’ invaluable contributions to our communities, our families, and our economy.”

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