FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2024
CONTACT: Daniela Perez, dperez@domesticworkers.org
Maryland Care Workers Celebrate Bills to Improve Home- and Community-Based Services, Help Boost Care Worker Wages and Enhance Family Care Statewide
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Today, in a significant step forward for care workers across Maryland, Governor Wes Moore signed two pivotal bills aimed at boosting wages and enhancing the quality of care throughout the state. The Home Care Worker Rights Act of 2024 (HB 39/SB 197), which ensures proper employee classification for home care workers, and the Home Care Workers Employment Act of 2024 (HB 189/SB 371), which establishes foundational data for future wage enhancements, were signed into law in a ceremony held at the Maryland State House.
The signing event was attended by Caring Across Maryland Coalition members—including care workers, advocates, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, SEIU 1199 Maryland/DC, and partners—who gathered to celebrate this landmark achievement and continue advocating for vital legislative reforms. The coalition’s efforts have brought these critical issues to the forefront, demonstrating a united commitment to improving the care sector.
Allison Yunda, Maryland’s lead organizer at the National Domestic Workers Alliance, commented on the new legislation, “Today marks a monumental victory for care workers and families throughout Maryland who have faced longstanding challenges in the care industry. With the signing of these bills, Maryland recognizes the essential role of care workers and sets a powerful precedent for other states. Our commitment to enhancing care does not end here; it is the beginning of sustained improvements that will ensure fair wages and dignified conditions for all care workers.”
This legislative milestone underscores Maryland’s dedication to transforming the care landscape, ensuring fair compensation for care workers, and providing high-quality care for all residents. The successful passage of these bills aligns with broader national efforts led by the National Domestic Workers Alliance and its partners to bolster the Medicaid-funded direct care workforce and enhance overall care infrastructure. By increasing state and federal funding for Home and Community-Based Services, the coalition aims to alleviate workforce shortages, improve wages, and implement strategies to stabilize and elevate the care workforce nationally.
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National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) is the leading voice for dignity and fairness for millions of domestic workers in the United States. Founded in 2007, NDWA works for respect, recognition and inclusion in labor protections for domestic workers, the majority of whom are immigrants and women of color. NDWA is powered by over 70 affiliate organizations and local chapters and by a growing membership base of nannies, house cleaners and care workers in over 20 states. Learn more at
www.domesticworkers.org. NDWA is a non-partisan non-profit organization that does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidates for public office.
