Rhode Island Domestic Workers Now Entitled to State Minimum Wage

Domestic workers in Rhode Island, traditionally excluded from state minimum wage protections, will now be paid at least the state minimum wage thanks to a new law signed by Governor Daniel McKee. Senate Bill 2021, which goes into effect immediately, removes the provision that previously excluded individuals employed in domestic service from being considered employees under Rhode Island’s minimum wage laws. This means domestic workers, who were previously only guaranteed the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, will now earn at least $14 per hour, increasing to $15 per hour on January 1.

The law, however, does not extend workers’ compensation benefits to domestic workers if injured. Senator Dawn Euer, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, emphasized the importance of this change, stating, ‘This bill extends a very basic protection to some of our most essential workers while removing one of the most puzzling statutes in Rhode Island law.’ Representative Leonela Felix highlighted that domestic workers are predominantly women, people of color, and immigrants, and deserve equal protection under labor laws.

A 2022 report by the Economic Policy Institute revealed that over 90% of domestic workers in the U.S. are women, with more than half being Black, Hispanic, or Asian American and Pacific Islander. Other states, including Massachusetts, New York, and Hawaii, have implemented similar protections, ensuring minimum wage, overtime pay, and other labor rights for domestic workers.