Adhikaar’s Newsletter: July to October

Domestic Worker Program: Fight for Recognition, Rights, and Dignity of Domestic Work

Services:

For Domestic Workers a CPR certification is a crucial requirement and an important aspect of working as a Nanny, and Home Health Aid worker. In August we held CPR training with American Heart Association at our worker center with our Domestic Worker members. 

Advocacy:

In October, after years of advocacy, the New Jersey Domestic Workers Bill of Rights successfully passed the NJ Assembly and the Local Government Committee. And in December, the Bill got passed in the NJ Senate’s Labor Committee. The Bill will provide legal rights and protection to 50,000+ NJ Domestic Workers.

Throughout the process, our Domestic Worker member leaders worked tirelessly with our coalition partners to achieve this important milestone. In September, Adhikaar’s member leader and Domestic Worker Bimala Regmi testified before the NJ State Assembly and local government about the abuses she endured–from being forced to work ten consecutive hours without breaks to being denied time off for medical appointments. 

As we push for full passage of the historic bill, we are organizing meetings and rallies with partner organizations and State elected officials. Together we can expand worker rights to all Domestic Workers in the state of NJ.

Organizing:

Last month at our monthly membership meeting two long-term member leaders shared their journey with their peers to motivate and mobilize members to organize with Adhikaar. Our Organizer Rukmani Bhattarai reflected on her leadership path–first joining Adhikaar as a member and now serving as a lead trainer. Sunita Hamal, another member, shared her experience of taking “We Rise” Nanny training and later becoming a facilitator on both the “We Rise” Nanny training and the “We Make History” curriculum.

The “We Rise” Nanny training covers the topics of nutrition, social-emotional child development, workers’ rights and empowerment, and communication with families. It is part of Adhikaar’s workforce development program and is being led by our Domestic Worker member leaders. 

NEW STAFF and FELLOW ALERT: Join us in welcoming our new full-time Domestic Worker Organizer Rukmani Bhattarai Adhikari and part-time Fellow Sambardhana Gurung. Check out their bios HERE! 

Stay tuned for the next part of the newsletter on our Youth, English for Empowerment class, Health, and Org-Wide updates.