Survey: 93% of black domestic workers in Miami-Dade have seen job cuts
A new survey shows nearly all Black domestic workers in Miami-Dade have seen job cuts of one kind or another as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.
The Institute for Policy studies, a progressive think tank, found that 93% of Black county respondents in occupations like nannies, housekeepers and home-care providers said they had either lost their jobs, seen their hours reduced or experienced a pay cut.
The figure was even higher for undocumented respondents: 96% said they’d been terminated, compared with 67% of documented workers. Among the former group, 95% said their immigration status is negatively affecting their ability to find new work.
A total of 227 county respondents replied to the survey, which was conducted between May 19 and June 6 and conducted in English and Creole. Workers in New York and Massachusetts were also surveyed.
The survey is part of the institute’s Black Worker Initiative and was undertaken in partnership with the National Domestic Workers Alliance’s We Dream in Black program.
“These workers are seeing massive job losses and changes to terms of labor,” said Aimée-Josiane Twagirumukiza, Black Organizing Director at the alliance, an advocacy organization, on a press call. “We’re also seeing, and anticipating, a massive housing crisis because of course job loss means many cannot afford housing.”
The survey found that in Miami-Dade, 90% of respondents reported being at risk of eviction or having their utilities shut off in the next three months. Among undocumented workers, 94% reported being at risk compared with 85% of documented workers.
And those who are still able to work reported fearing for their health. In Miami-Dade, 89% of respondents reported receiving no safety clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE) from their employers. And 85% of all respondents — and 100% of undocumented respondents — said they do not have medical insurance.
Survey organizers called on state and federal leaders to shore up the social safety net for these workers.
“Among these Black women, there is a historical expectation that they put their own lives and families on the line in order to care for others,” said Twagirumukiza. “[We must] invest in changes at all levels of government that sets a foundation for care work.”
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 2:15 PM.
