FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
CONTACT: Daniela Perez, [email protected]
Governor Youngkin Turns Back on Virginia’s Domestic Workers by Vetoing Overtime Protections
Richmond, Va. – Care in Action released the following statement in response to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s veto of SB 897 and HB 2469, which would have restored overtime protections for live-in domestic workers, ensuring they are fairly compensated for their labor:
“With this veto, Governor Youngkin has made it clear that he has no interest in protecting the essential workers who make Virginia’s economy and families thrive. Domestic workers—overwhelmingly women of color—care for our loved ones and homes, yet they are denied the most basic labor protections that other workers take for granted. By refusing to sign these bills, Governor Youngkin has chosen to stand with those who exploit workers rather than those who do the essential, backbreaking work of caregiving.
For too long, domestic workers have been excluded from labor protections due to outdated policies founded in racism that devalue their work. This veto is not just a failure of leadership—it is an active decision to allow wage theft and exploitation to continue unchecked. Live-in caregivers often work around the clock, sacrificing their own health and well-being to care for others, yet they are still expected to do so without fair compensation. It is disgraceful.
In the coming years, the need for skilled care workers in Virginia will continue to increase. The lack of protections and fair wages in this industry means high turnover and a growing workforce shortage. This hurts all of our families. Governor Youngkin had the opportunity to do the right thing, but he refused. So let us be clear: Care in Action will not be deterred. We will keep fighting until domestic workers receive the fair treatment and protections they deserve.”
On Tuesday, March 25, Care in Action Virginia and domestic workers gathered for a rally at Arlington Mill Community Center to demand justice in the wake of the veto. The rally made clear that while the Virginia Senate and House passed these bipartisan bills, Governor Youngkin turned his back on the very workers who keep our families and homes running.
Key Provisions of the Bills:
- Overtime Pay Protections: Would have ensured that live-in domestic workers are compensated fairly for all hours worked beyond the standard workweek.
- Enforcement Measures: Would have empowered workers to take legal action against wage theft.
- Consistency in Labor Law: Would have aligned domestic worker protections with existing state wage laws, ensuring equal rights for all workers in Virginia.
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Care in Action is the policy and advocacy home for women who care, working on behalf of more than two million domestic workers and care workers across America. Among the fastest-growing sectors in our economy, domestic workers are also among the most vulnerable and undervalued. As a mostly women and majority women of color workforce, this growing constituency consistently and overwhelmingly supports progressive values in American political life. Learn more at www.careinaction.us.