Domestic Workers Senate Bill 535

    Women's caucus protecting domestic workers
     I was at the House Judiciary hearing on Thursday, April 4 for SB 535 Relating to Labor.  The bill's title is Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and extends minimum wage and overtime protections to domestic service workers who had previously been exempt.  This is not an administration package bill and it is part of the Women's Caucus package.  In addition to the extension of protections of minimum wage and overtime, the measure  extends some specific civil rights protections under Chapter 378, Part I, Hawaii Revised Statutes, so Hawaii Civil Rights Commission  as well as the Wage Standards Division were there testifying in support.

     Objections
     Before the Judiciary Committee Chair Rhoads called for the vote to pass the bill out with amendments,  Representative Thielen was quite vocal about her objections to the measure.  Her focus was not whether domestic service workers should receive minimum wage and overtime as provided in Sections 3 and 4,  her objections were on the public outreach that had not been done on this measure, mostly related to the civil rights issues in Section 1 and 2.   She voted no, and convinced Representative McDermott to vote no too.

     Lack of citizen involvement
     I thought Rep Thielen's point about how few people actually track legislation and don't even hear about it until it passes was the important message.  Her main point was the effect of this measure will not impact business just families who employ people in their homes to assist in traditional family duties.  Reiterating her support of the civil union measure and her concern for her constituents Rep. Thielen expected more public discussion on the issue. 

      Comments anyone?   
      This measure, SB 535 HD2,  is going to conference committee now and is a measure the Department supports.  No one can argue that participation of the community is essential if Hawaii wants to exercise democracy as it was designed.  Comments are always welcome. (Of course, within the guidelines of the policy for this blog.)