Filed under: notes
There are stories about abused domestic workers in the papers with some regularity. Working in isolation seems to make workers vulnerable both to not knowing their rights and to abuse by employers. From Nanny Sues Former Bosses:
A 69-year-old San Mateo woman who spent four years working as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for an Atherton couple filed suit Thursday in federal court against her former employers, alleging that they violated labor laws by working her 14 hours a day, six days a week, and failed to give her the minimum wage, overtime pay or breaks.
In her suit, Vilma Serralta says she was paid $1,000 to $1,300 a month to vacuum, mop and dust the 9,300-square-foot home, wash windows, cook, serve meals, hand-wash china and silver, make beds, launder and iron clothes, and bathe, dress and supervise the couple’s young daughter.
Check out this video over at MsCellania, for a twist on this situation: http://www.misscellania.com/
Scroll down the post for today (Mar. 14) till you find “Spanish for Nannies”. Pretty funny.
Comment by mskitty 03.14.08 @ 9:07 amThere was a similar case in Milwaukee, except the worker in that case endured it for 19 years. The employers, a husband and wife who are both physicians, were sentenced to four years in prison. Since they are from the Philippines (as is the employee), and not citizens, they will be deported at the end of of their sentences. Interestingly, the local Filipino community rallied in support of the employers, saying that in the Philippines, this sort of arrangement is common and viewed as fair. That didn’t sway the judge. You can read more here:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=532068
There’s a lot more to the story. How they got caught is especially interesting.
Comment by JC 03.14.08 @ 9:25 amHere’s the link, Ms. Kitty. That was pretty funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fda4_wo6JI
That’s quite a story, JC.
Comment by Ms. Theologian 03.14.08 @ 9:42 amOf course, it’s always women who are taken advantage of in this way.
Comment by h sofia 03.14.08 @ 10:40 amThat video looks like my life and one of my jobs.
Comment by Comrade Kevin 03.14.08 @ 2:01 pmLeave a comment
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