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Newsom Vetoes Domestic Worker Safety Bill
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Liudmila Chernetska
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Getty Images/iStockphoto
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Topline:
California domestic workers lost out on workplace safety conditions when Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have included them in labor laws granted to other workers.
Why it matters: Domestic workers are mostly women of color who have suffered from asthma and arthritis because of their working conditions. But Newsom argued private households can't be regulated the same as businesses, referencing liability and privacy issues.
Why now: Domestic workers have pushed for inclusion in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for years. Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) sponsored this year's push that was vetoed Saturday.
The backstory: This year's proposal was recommended by a statewide advisory committee to end the 50-year Cal/OSHA exclusion of domestic workers, which advocates say hearkens back to slavery.
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